Julie B. Beck - And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My ...

What a week!! Katie

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Wow, what a week. As it is every year at the end of the school year. Finishing up, we got it all done!! We were doing the "happy dance" last night as Katie graduated from High School; her journey has been hard, each grade a victory. Some kids go through school with no effort, some excel and some fight everyday to make it. We so proud of you Katie!!

Sassy!

Friends

So Happy!!!

Yea!! You did it!!

Christi (mom), Katie and Donny (dad) 

Some of the sisters!

Katie & Cristin all grown up

It is very traditional to wear a flower lei at graduation, here they take it even further, we have a large Polynesian influence, and with my son in law being Tongan, Tua's Aunt fashioned these amazing candy leis for Katie. They really only want the kids to wear one lei at graduation but after they showered with leis. Some are made out of money, candy and treats, some will get so many you can hardly see their face. 

Katie - Class of 2010

Memorial Day Table - StoneGable

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This is part of a blog post from StoneGable

Red, White and Blue, Patriotic True!

Memorial Day was originally called Rememberance Day.  First established to honor and remember soldier's who had lost their lives in the Civil War. Their graves were decorated with flags and flowers to remember them and their ultimate sacrifice.

Rememberance Day was later changed to Memorial Day and remains a day to honor American men and women who have given their lives so we can be a free nation!
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At StoneGable we will mark this day with a trip to a beautiful National Cemetery where my father is laid to rest and honor his memory with prayers and flowers. And then back to our home for a family barbecue to live out his legacy.

The inspiration for this table is our wonderful "Old Glory"! My heart sings when I see our flag. Being raised in a military family made me keenly grateful to be an American!

Happy Memorial Day! Remember our men and women who serve and keep us safe! God Bless America!

You have to check out this great blog!! Yvonne at StoneGable

A Thought

... And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely - I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Pink Saturday - Raspberries

Happy Pink Saturday!

How Sweet The Sound

As I was thinking about what to post for Pink Saturday I was thinking of some of my favorite things I thought of Raspberries.
I grew up in Clovis, California that is in the San Joaquin Valley, which grows a lot of the produce for the US. I was so spoiled to have such amazing fresh and yummy tasting fruits and veggies all the time.

We grew a huge garden for years and my grandmother had the most beautiful garden and fruit tress. I remember she would let us pick all the berries we wanted. I also remember what a pain it was, the vines so full of tiny thorns that I would get all starched up.
So much work for those tiny little gems that I loved.
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It takes work to get the food we do. I think so many of us take it for granted that when we go to the grocery store that they have anything and everything we could want. I know I did, when we moved to West Virginia and the first time I went to the store I wanted some peaches. As I held one in my hand, it looked that a little green golf ball with fuzz, and to make matters worse they were over $3.00 a pound. I stood there and cried! No I really did.

A Goal Set, a Promise Kept

The events of the world have been on my mind as of late and I have been feeling that need to get prepared. I posted on my blog a little while back about some of things I had been working on. But about two weeks ago my sister I was talking on the phone, and we both realized that we had water barrels BUT had not filled them with water yet. A lot of good they would do us with no water in them.

So right there we both set a goal together that within the next two weeks we would have them filled. (yes two weeks) So today I received an email from my sister

Just a friendly reminder about "Mission: Water Storage" .... are we at the 2 week mark yet? 
Lisa
=

Thank you, yea, still haven't done it. But now I will :-)
How about you??
Christi

five down, one more container to go :)

So I did it, here is one of the barrels!!

Bubble Gum flavored cough syrup – Really?

I have a few children that have been suffering from a cold. You know the kind when your nose is runny and it is running down the back of your throat and it's killing you with a never ending cough so you feel like you going to die, kind of cold. It is awful it feel that sick.

Trying to relive their symptoms I gave them some cold medicine. It tastes like bubblegum but I found myself having to beg them to take it. With whining and fussing "I hate this kind of medicine" I told them you have NO idea how good this tastes compared to what I use to take.

Does anyone remember taking this yummy hot brown goo??

Post-It Note Tuesday #3

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.  — Thomas S. Monson

"Why Mothers Need Their Sleep"

Happy Pink Saturday - My Vintage Love

Happy Pink Saturday!

I have a love for vintage things and then add pink and I am in heaven. 

I love my pink bowls!!

I love vintage tables clothes 

 This is my favorite pattern

Again love this pattern - So Cute!!

 Yummy!

There is a piece of me that longs for more simpler times. When good was good and right was right. Where family and friends mattered. Life has gotten so busy I think we have lost sight of what is most important.

So Excited! - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I have been working hard to get my US passport. I have done some traveling and have been to Mexico and Canada but now with all the new rules I needed to get a passport.

My birthday gift from my sister Lisa (and her husband Steve) is that she is taking me to see our Mom and Dad in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (they are there serving a mission)  The land of Anne (with and E) Shirley, from Green Gables

We will be taking a ferry to Prince Edward Island, and going to the Farmers Market. I cannot wait to see all the sites. I am so excited.

My Swagger Wagon - So funny

Toyota Sienna - Swagger Wagon

You need to watch this!

Mom From A to Z

Mom From A to Z....courtesy of Hallmark!
and from Loving Life

ABOVE and BEYOND
No one loves you like a Mom, and no one ever will

BELIEVES IN YOU
There's no superpower greater than a Mom who's in your corner.

CARING
Just try to make her stop giving the Mom-love (not to mention the Mom-advice)

DEALS WITH STUFF
So all you have to do is grow up feeling save and loved.

ENCOURAGING
You'll never have a better cheerleader....ever!

FORGIVES
the Annoying Little Things You Do
And if you're lucky, the major big things (in time)

GOES THE DISTANCE
Just when you're the least lovable, that's when you need her most-- and somehow she just knows

HEARS WHAT YOU CAN'T SAY
She can read you like a book...That's good...most of the time!

IMMOVABLE
You pushed the limits. She stood her ground. You survived. That was kind of the point.

JUGGLES ROLES LIKE A PRO
And makes it look easy!

KEEPS ON KEEPING ON
Her hopes and dreams and love for you just won't quit!

LET'S YOU MAKE YOUR OWN MISTAKES
And helps you get right back on track

 MAKES YOU PROUD
You can see she's respected in the world for who she is

NURTURES YOU GROWING UP
She doesn't hand you everything, but she makes sure you're strong enough to go get it.

OUTSPOKEN
She knows her own mind and has her own voice.

PATIENT
You don't even remember how annoying your toddler self could be. She doesn't either.

QUICK WITH PRAISE
And even quicker to brag on you to others.

RADIANT
Her smile is always beautiful, because it's where love lives.

SPOILS YOU ROTTEN (sometimes)
Not that you mind

TIRELESS
Did she ever want a break? (uh, maybe....) Did she get one? (you're kidding, right?)

UNPREDICTABLE
She doesn't let life or expectations put her in a box.

VALUED
As a mom, a mentor and, more and more, as a friend.

WISE
Where would you be if you didn't have her on speed dial?

EXEMPLARY
The best parts of yourself you learned from watching her.

YOUNG IN SPIRIT
She knows birthdays don't count--love-filled moment and memories do.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR fibs
That's why you always tell her the truth. And the truth is that you love her for all these reasons and hundreds more.

Do Good, Serve Others, Make Memories

Man this last week flew by. 

School is coming to an end.

Although the weather still feels like March,

it is May and things are coming at me fast.

Today we said a good bye to a friend.

Life is so precious, you never

know when things can change. 

Do Good, Serve Others, Make Memories,

Have No Regrets and Tell those around

you how much you Love them.

Post-It Note Tuesday #2

Happy Mother's Day 2010

What a Mother's Day!

I know that Mother's Day can come with mixed emotions. For those we can not have children, for those who have lost children and for Mother's who wonder do I measure up, I'm I doing a good job.

I had a wonderful morning at church, came home and was showered with gifts. I got to take a long nap and woke up to an amazing dinner. (Thank you Donny and to all my kids) I love you!

 My Boys 

 (got them both smiling, I am tickling them)

 after church

 from Lindsay

I LOVE aprons!!

 Great Book

 Fresh water pearls

 Homemade soap - (orange scent)

 A very much needed pizza cutter

A Flirty Apron Mother's Day

My Mom - Lois

 

My sister Lisa

Wow! Look at my group 

(the boys just loved doing this)

 

Me & Alissa