Emancipation Day for Savannah!

The sentence was 30 months or so.  It extended to 37 months leaving Savannah disappointed that it reached half way through high school, but today she is so happy to be free.

Before

After

Thanks Dr. T and Dr. G.  I think her new smile looks fab!

Walking the bridge with the kids

It was too cool for the pool or a water park, and summer break is leaving us at break-neck speed.  We no longer have a zoo pass, so we opted for the walking bridge today.  At least four of us did.  Andy was working, and Zach was stuck in jury duty.

We got some fun shots, and the kids really liked it.

I just love this!  It captures him so well.

I've been wanting a really good picture of the girls together.  While I like this shot, I think we can improve on it.

Savannah took several shots.  I am sure some future drawings will come from some of them.  She hopes to get a picture of a city skyline soon so that she can draw one again.  She had lots of fun drawing her picture of NYC from the Top of the Rock even though it was really hard.

We couldn't afford to join the family at the beach this summer, but we are doing our best to make the best of the short summer we have.  The walking bridge is free, and all the kids enjoyed it.  We couldn't have asked for a better day for this.  The breeze over the river was wonderful.

It's a good week

One of Savannah's friends regretted missing her birthday so much that she promised to make it up to her.  Savannah joined E and her family at their lake home over the weekend where Savannah enjoyed tubing and knee-boarding for the first time.  She actually got up on the knee-board on her first try.

She returned home beat up from the tubing, but Neosporin and the fun she had totally make up for the scrapes and scabs.

Savannah received her first paycheck today.  She and I were both surprised that it came to $92.91.  Savannah is a saver, but I think she might enjoy a little splurge on something fun with her money.  We have a great little eclectic jewelry shop in town where Savannah found some fun earrings about a month ago.  They are very affordable too, so maybe we will head over there for some earrings later this week.

Yes, her checks come the old fashioned way.  Savannah learned a few things about reading gross vs. net income on her  check stub. She also learned to complete a deposit slip at the bank.  

 So far, she's enjoying a fabulous week. I am so glad as this is my last week of summer, so we have very little time to get in any fun.  It is too cool today for the pool or a water park, so Savannah and I (hopefully Wyatt and Julia too) are going to visit the walking bridge.  Savannah is very intrigued after seeing the pictures from our anniversary visit.

We are really hoping for more good news to share about Savannah on the blog tomorrow, so stop back by.

Home to me

Andy and I did not plan to celebrate our anniversary yesterday.  Much of the family was headed to an amusement park, and I was scheduled to babysit little ones for them.  We often do little more to celebrate our anniversaries than dinner out.  I was relieved early of my duties yesterday by a generous grandma.  Therefore, we took advantage of the opportunity to see our city's walking bridge which just opened a few months ago.  I have been wanting to take my camera and play with manual mode.

We really enjoyed it and will definitely make a return visit.  Our celebration of our anniversary will actually be in a few weeks.  Andy presented me with a voucher to visit a winery for wine tasting.   We can't go this weekend as we will be enjoying Andy's high school reunion.  In just two weeks, we move Zach in to the dorm, so I think it will be a few weeks before we put that voucher to use. It should be fun.

There have been some issues with violent crime at the walking bridge park, but I still took my purse (mostly because I didn't have time to switch to a smaller cross body clutch before leaving) and my good camera.  I felt threatened only once.  There was  group of three teenage boys walking behind us, and one of them was really checking us out. I recognized his look as I work daily with teenagers, and it was the plotting, and "how will I get away with it?" look.  Andy suggested that we walk several feet away and sit in a swing.  Sensing our safety was in jeopardy, I suggested a different route that would put the teens in front of us rather than behind us.  It either worked and they moved on, or I was overly cautious.  Andy did agree that they appeared to be up to no good, stating "I recognize that look." Regardless, the park was packed, and they would have had to pull off a pretty brazen act which is exactly what some of our local teens have done in the past at this park.  I am grateful that we made it home with the camera and without injury.

The weather was perfect, and we managed some really nice pictures.

Andy took the next three pictures.  I wanted to frame the view with the bridge itself, but I wasn't tall enough to do it.  So, I set the camera, and he took the pictures.

Our swim coaches got a big kick out of Andy one day this summer when he showed up at practice wearing these glasses.  They agreed that he looks like John Lennon.

I may have to change my fair entry as I really love the picture above and the one below.

We anticipated a gorgeous sunset but didn't want to hang out until after dark.  We snapped a few pictures of the sun going down and headed home.  I have grown up crossing these bridges every time we visited Grandma by the Lake. The walking bridge was an old railroad bridge that has been closed for as long as I can remember.  I love my hometown.

For Better or for Worse

21 years ago today, I said “I do” to my best friend. Over the course of those years we have seen the Grand Canyon, New York City and enjoyed a few beaches.  We visited Estes Park in both the winter and the summer with a visit in spring and fall left on the bucket list. We climbed the Great Wall of China. We hope to see Italy someday too.

We marveled over the miracle of tiny newborns entrusted to our care and journeyed to China for a toddler and later for a five-year-old after wading through mountains of paperwork.  

We weathered storms.  We each lost a parent far too soon.  We married with five grandparents still living between us.  We now have one.  We suffered through miscarriages.  We lost a much loved brother in law, and we have mourned with and for our widowed sister and widowed friend. We have loved and buried two dogs, and we have endured the most evil cat known to mankind (no more cats for this family!) along with hamsters, a gecko and fish.  We have mixed feelings about the two dogs now residing in our home.  I think we make animals become neurotic.

We have driven to and from countless practices and sat through games in pouring rain, freezing cold (like 20 degrees cold), and under the most beautiful sunrises, sunsets and even a rainbow.  We have walked our kids through triumphs and failures, great times and big disappointments.  We have taken turns throughout a sleepless night or two nursing the child with the high fever and had each others’ backs when we had to take turns cleaning up after sick kids or animals since neither of us stomach that well. We parent four kids with very different personalities who all have a wonderful love for God and family. We’ve been so blessed. 

We learned by accident many years ago that we could end the fights in our marriage by simply having separate checking accounts. At first, we thought that meant we were failures ;) We have worked hard, and we have been prosperous, and we have been broke. 

I have benefitted most from this relationship as I have a husband who is pretty selfless.  He puts up with my messes, laziness, and general fatigue.

We have laughed a lot, and our kids have all inherited a great sense of humor.  We have been united in our goals for our kids and thus our parenting. We have tried hard to put God first, each other second and kids third.  I couldn’t have and wouldn’t have done this with anyone else.  Happy Anniversary, Andy. I still do.

Then

and now 

photo courtesy of Derrick Dixon Photography

A totally frivolous post- I warned you.

I warned you that I might share my thoughts on the perfect purse, so here you have it - a totally meaningless post.

Way back in November, I attended a Scentsy/ Velata / Grace Adele party.  I was familiar with Scentsy but not the other two companies.  As it turns out they are all a family of companies under one umbrella.  If you have never heard of them, then I will explain.  Scentsy sells wax burners and scented wax.  The burners are really pretty, and the wax is a safe way to make your home smell nice without the open flame of a candle.  Valata is similar to Scentsy, but Valata products are fondue warmers and fondues.  Grace Adele products include purses, clutches, make up bags, and jewelry.

Disclaimer: I am a purse/bag/tote girl.  Clothes shopping is never fun for me as I am never satisfied by the way I look in anything, and lots of my stuff has to be altered.  Shoes mostly hurt my feet, so shoes are no fun.  I love purses.  I am also very practical and picky.  I don't change purses regularly, so my purses have to match a variety of outfits.  They must zip across the top. I like them big, but not too big, and I can't have shoulder straps.  I do always have one cross body purse on hand for those times when we are visiting a zoo or amusement park, or ball game, and mom's hands must be free.

I went to this party to pick up some wax melts and really loved the purses.  I had two problems with the purses at that time.  1. They were pricey, and I had no budget for them.  2. I had just purchased a purse.  I really limit myself to one purse purchase at most per year.  (I do not buy pricey purses - no Michael Kor's or Coach for this girl).

A month later, the price of the purse I wanted most dropped to an affordable $25.  I strongly hinted for Christmas, but alas, the purse did not show up under the tree:) 

I decided then that I would splurge for the summer, and I did.  I loved the purse from the start.  I even contacted my consultant about becoming a consultant myself.  I mean if you want/need a second job because you have a child heading to college, why not have a fun job, right?  I learned from my inquiry that the company had decided to drop the Grace Adele line.  Therefore, I waited for the clearance sales.  Then I went a little overboard, but they are going away forever, and the prices could not be beat.  I am awaiting a big order.  I shouldn't have, but I will explain what I love with the pictures.

The company sells clutches and purses that are made to coordinate.  The clutches have a shoulder strap and can be carried alone.  However, they can also change the look of the purse.  In the picture above, I have a clutch in the front pocket of my purse to give some contrast to the black.  With the sale, buying a few clutches made sense.  Not only do they allow me to change my purse without changing my purse, but some of them are dressy enough for Savannah to carry to her formal dances.

I may love the inside pockets the most.  I have never, before now, had a purse that didn't require regular digging at the bottom to find items unless I was using a purse insert.

This is my purse without the clutch.  It sits upright.  I did not realize how important that is, but my previous purse did not sit upright, and that is a tad annoying.

A different clutch = a different look.  I am awaiting a purse scarf to coordinate with this look as I realized after I got it, that I really needed something to pull that particular blue and the black together.

Did I mention the pockets? - five inside pockets and this purse happens to have four outside pockets.  I really am not losing anything in it since everything has it's place.  I was worried about that satin lining for two reasons.  I thought it would easily tear, and I thought the cream would stain.  So far, I really haven't had a problem, and I have been carrying that orange purse all summer.

Today, I learned that the fall line is available from Grace Adele until the end of the month.  I want the Kinley purse.  When I placed the order on which I am waiting, I intended to order the Kinley.  I messed up and ordered another style instead.  Because the company is going out of business, there are no returns, and the Kinley was sold out when I realized my mistake.  It has been brought back briefly in a fall color.   I must now decide whether I want to try and sell the purse I bought by mistake on ebay and go ahead and purchase the Kinley, or just let it be.  One of the fall purses is a shade of blue that I have envied when I have seen friends carrying purses of that shade, but really I am stopping myself now.  I think.  My birthday is fast approaching, so that blue purse is definitely on the wish list :)

If you are interested, find a consultant near you on the Grace Adele site, and check out the purses, or visit my consultant's site at Grace Adele.  You can have a purse delivered right to your door, and take it from this picky, purse shopper, they are very good purses.

July 30, - update

My new purses arrived today.  I had hoped I would love the blue one.  That is the one I ordered by mistake, but the reality is that I don't.  The shoulder strap is just not for me.  I do think I will try and sell that one on ebay.  The red purse is the perfect color.  It's a gorgeous red.  It is bigger than my other purses and does not sit upright.  Had I known, I would have bought the red in the same style as my other Grace Adele purses, but that is the risk of buying without actually seeing the merchandise. I do really like the outside pockets on it. It's just too big for me.  Most of these purses are designed for people who have to carry tablets around.  I am not that person, but I do like to be able to put my Bible and notebook in my purse for church. Each purse only cost me $16, so I did not break the bank.  As far as selling the one on ebay.  I will simply want the $16 and shipping on it, so I will sell it as a "buy it now" option.

In addition to the purses, I did buy two $8 clutches, and I am especially happy with my red clutch.  It might make a nice cross-body purse when I need something really small.  I also got a stone colored clutch with some bling on it.  It will coordinate nicely with both of Savannah's formal dresses so that she will have a purse to carry to her dances.  I also purchased a wallet for $7 which I really like and intend to keep even though I currently use my duck tape wallet.  Lastly, I bought a little cell phone holder.  For $5 I figured it was worth a try.  All summer, I have thought that something small like that to carry just my license and some cash to the pool would be much better than having my purse in the car as our pool had some burglaries this summer.  We were warned again and again not to leave valuables in our cars as thieves were brazenly breaking windows to steal.  I think my little cell phone holder will be very nice for the pool.  Now if we could just get the weather to be nice for the pool :)  Cool here lately.  Beautiful, but not exactly screaming summer.

July 31st Update

I have never sold anything on ebay before.  I listed the blue purse last night, and it sold before I got out of bed this morning.  It has already been paid.  I sold it for more than I paid because it was cheaper to list it as an auction with a "buy it now" option, and I had a hard time figuring out ebay fees.  I started the auction at $20 with the "buy it now" option at $30.  This purse originally retailed for $80, and I really hope the customer loves it. Now I have to figure out how to find the shipping address because I would like to ship it today.  I know what it is like to wait on a package:)  Now, I also have to decide if I want to purchase the other blue purse as today is the last day of the sale.  I am guessing if they don't sell out that it will be available for a lower price in a few weeks, but one of the styles did sell out.  I checked the measurements last night, and it will definitely be more to my liking than either of my $16 purses :)  Unfortunately, it is almost 3X more than $16 and more than that when shipping is figured.

She makes me laugh

Bombs fall.  Planes crash.  The sex trade continues to keep women and children in horrible bondage.  People go hungry.  Friends face unemployment. Babies are abandoned by parents unable to take care of them. Christians are martyred.  I can and do lose sleep over it.  It is hard to balance the happiness of living in a first world country and all it offers with the suffering both nearby and far away.  Sometimes the heaviness of it threatens to choke me.

However, I have a fun and funny family, and I have to remind myself that immense suffering occurred thousands of years ago so that we can have abundant joy.

Julia continues her obsession with making duck tape crafts - especially wallets.  I posted long ago about my wallet after finally finding the perfect wallet.  I may soon post about finding the perfect purse.  I am picky about these things -1st world problems, I know.

Julia studied my wallet. She was determined to sell me on a duck tape wallet and sell it to me.  She knows my qualifications. It must have room for my cards, checkbook, bills, change and ID.  I prefer it also to have a place for a pen, but my purse has one, so I can give up the wallet pen holder if I have to.

We agreed on a price.  She chose tape that she hoped I would like but did confirm that before she started this project.

Finally, she presented the following wallet to me wrapped in paper and sealed in plastic.  She delivered on every requirement except the pen holder.

Julia included this invoice.  I laughed.  It is so nice to laugh over the simplest of things when you sometimes feel like you are drowning in the sorrows of the world.  Clearly, she pays attention to detail.  She also put us on notice today that she eavesdrops - yep, we knew that already.

She was so excited about the wallet that she took the time to transfer all my stuff from my old wallet to my new one when I did not have the time to do it.  My dad came over last night, and she proudly showed it to him.  He said he would have never guessed it was made of duck tape.