Blogging

more blogging coming soon....really! I know I've been slacking but times are a changin' and I hope to get back in the saddle again real soon.

It was so much easier to blog when I was a stay-at-home mom with little ones running around! It was also easier to keep my house clean but that is a whole other story!

Going Green

I think THESE are the coolest things!

Party Pictures

I'm still here...

Just so super BUSY as mentioned in my last post. But believe it or not, even more things have been added to my week so it has really been a whirlwind.

But I truly am loving all the things that are packed in...painting, spending time with babies, spending the day with 3 hilarious 4 year olds, having deep discussions with other adults, celebrating birthdays...

and welcoming home a husband.

He is home for 6 days (I think) before he flys out again.

And as promised, here are some pictures from my niece's Sweet Sixteen Party~

"Masquerade Ball"






The Cake~


The Parents~


Special Messages From Friends~




Daddy and Daughter Dance~


More Dancing (There are lots of dancing pictures!)~



The Parting Gift~


The photographer~


Aunt and Grandma (I have a GREAT picture of grandma and grandpa but couldn't upload it :( ~

Week Ahead

The week ahead ~

~Tonight I will be putting on a ball gown and attending my niece's 16th birthday party. It's a masquerade ball and I am really looking forward to it!

~Monday, Management and I will celebrate 13 years of marriage. It's been good, it's been bad, at times it's been ugly but he really is my best friend and we are in it for the long haul. And as one woman said the other day, "I think you two are quite smitten with each other."

~Tuesday, my mom turns 60! Happy Birthday Mom!

~Wednesday, I will be collecting my two little "nephews" and keeping them for 4 days while their parents go on an anniversary (10th!) to Mexico. I am really excited to spend the time with the boys and HomeAudio and WeeklyAd can't wait either!

Did I mention that Management will be out of town this week? I will be flying solo with the 4 kids but HomeAudio and WeeklyAd are old enough to help and I really am not worried about it. I think it will be fun!

~Friday, we conclude our HUGE service project at school and will have a celebration dinner. I am really looking forward to this too! Can't wait to see the video of all the kids helping and serving!!

BUSY week ahead but they are all things that I am super excited about!

Divided

Being on the Regent Board this year for our school has been very exciting, enlightening, and educational. I really am enjoying it though it keeps me crazy busy and stretches me beyond belief! Without going into too much detail, one of the running themes this year has been the need to prioritize our goals/desires for the expansion of the school. It's not unreasonable that the Science department wants a new Science lab, the elementary parents want a new elementary playground, the Athletic Department wants a new locker room, and so on...these are all great goals...and they would all enhance our facility and our school...and they all require money.

It can be a bit overwhelming to think about all the work that needs to be done, can be done, and the money that's needed to get it all done. Hence the thought of prioritizing the list and tackling them one at a time to get them done rather than trying to a little bit with each one simultaneously.

The overwhelming feeling that I feel while sitting at these meetings is just a small amount compared to the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and frustration that I feel when looking at the goals and needs of the world.

We have some that are fighting for the orphans in Africa...Russia....the displaced people of India...Lousianna...the earthquake in Haiti....Chile....Human Trafficking...Global Warming....The hundreds of thousands of children in Foster Care in America....The people in South-Eastern states that live daily in extreme poverty...AIDS....Breast Cancer....Abortion....Homosexuality....

Just to name a few.

And we are divided in our fight.

I would love for all activists to join together and battle one cause at a time. To significantly make a change and end one band of suffering for good. But there is no way to prioritize a list that affects Human Lives!

We really can't ignore the Haitian people while we conquer the injustice of Human Trafficking. We can't put one on hold while we focus on another. I know this. And if you could, how would you ever choose which one takes top priority!?

You can't.

But I'm overwhelmed by the division of Christians in our different causes. I'm overwhelmed by the feeling of doing little good in many things and nothing great in any ONE thing.

I feel helpless.

There is no answer to this, I guess.

Just my thoughts.

A Good Mail Day

In case you can't tell, this is a picture of me.

Can't you see the resemblance??

My favorite part is the HUGE smile.

I literally was smiling that big when I opened this up today!

And this is the artist~


I told you that this little dumpling sends the prettiest pictures in the mail!

She melts my heart and brings me so much joy!

Thanks Anna!