Easter Layout

Supplies are from the March or April Memory Works Express Kit

Sorry for the poor photo.  I need to work on photographing the two page layouts.  This was last Easter.  Erik's entire family got together for Easter.  It was the first time in a long time, and we got a family photo of everyone.  There were a lot of kids running around, and they're all roughly the same ages.  It was a nice time.  

I am going to try and do something creative today.  We shall see how it goes.  It seems that something always comes up.  I have tons of photos to edit too.  I'm almost done with a newborn shoot, and tomorrow I have another newborn shoot.  Busy, busy, but I love photographing babies.  

Yesterday I went to the services for my friend's little boy.  It was really nice.  It was held in the high school gymnasium.  It's a brand new gym, but all of the old banners were still hanging up in there.  I was sitting around people I've known my entire life.  It felt so much like home.  The gym was 2/3 full with the number of people that came for the service.  It was nice to see so much support for the family.  

Well, I guess that's all for today.  Enjoy your weekend.  

untitled...please read and pray

This weekend, I have noticed that many, many plants are beginning to come back after our very hard freeze.  We have had to hold out hope for them to come back, and they finally are.  All of them are growing back from the bottom of the plants...the roots.  Only after they have been cut down to nubs.  A lot of them have changed.  They are not beautiful and strong anymore.  They are not beautifully shaped into perfect trees or bushes we loved and appreciated.  What does this mean?  I have contemplated on this.  Thought about life and the world, the things I have seen.  The way life will go on against all odds, against things so cold and hard that you don't think it will survive.  There is something to learn from nature.  To have faith, to wait and be patient, to be strong and diligent.  And though that bush, plant, or tree may never grow back into the beautiful form you shaped it into once, it will survive.  It will grow into something new.    Something that will be beautiful and lovely in it's own way.  Something you never expected.  Something that you did not plan, but altogether beautiful just the same.  And that is not to say that you forgot the potential that the plant once held, but you have accepted that fate has intervened and changed it into something new.  Not better, but different...and life and nature will always find a way to survive, to live.
**********************************************************************************
A dear family, people that I have know for a very long time, lost there son on Easter Sunday.  I ask that you please pray for them and for their peace.

I Heart Faces/Pets

Pets is the weekly theme this week at I Heart Faces.  This toad was our "pet" last summer when we found him living in the sandbox.  He was the biggest, ugliest toad I ever saw.  He would come out at night, or in the late afternoons.  Maddie was the only one brave enough to touch him.  The boys tried to make him swim and all kinds of other things, but he didn't.  I guess he was just too fat.  The last time I saw him was when we were redoing our yard.  We moved him to the garden so he would be safe.  I don't know what happened to him after that.  I guess, he left.  Maybe he didn't like the new yard.

Happy Birthday Maddie

My Maddie is six years old today.  My only blue eyed blondie.  He wants a volcano for his birthday!  He is my little firecracker, my wild monster.  Quick to anger, but also quick to love and snuggle.  He is so caring with his brothers.  He is so artistic and I always find him coloring, cutting, or doing some other art mess.  Most times in my office.  I cannot keep him clothed, or out of the water no matter the temperature outside.    He is loud, funny, and crazy.  His dad and I are very proud of him and so blessed to have him in our lives.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

I Heart Faces/Wind

This week's I Heart Faces Challenge is Wind.  While I should have plenty of photos of wind seeing as how it blows like mad here during the spring, I actually don't.  I guess it could be dangerous going out in 65 mph winds to photograph someone.  And it wouldn't really work out since my baldie boys don't have hair that can blow in the wind :)  The day I took this photo of a friend's girls, it was little bit breezy.  So, there you have it.  Two cute sisters.  

*****

I hope you all enjoy your Sunday.  I'm going to get caught up on laundry.  I find myself repeating this every week.  But, today, I'm really going to try.  I'm also having a bit of car trouble so I'll have to get that taken care of.   I will be back later this week to share some crafty stuff and a few photos from a maternity session.  I took some pictures of a tiny, week old baby yesterday.  I forgot how tiny babies are.  Anyhow, have a GREAT Palm Sunday!  

Escape 12x12 Layout

As promised, a Crafty Post.  This was our first fishing trip of the year last year.  I love the pictures of the boys fishing.  I'm home today with sick kids.  They have an appointment to get their strep throat cultures again.  That way, we can make sure they don't have it.  I'm so tired of them being sick all the time.  It's getting old.  Last weekend was the only weekend they haven't been sick.  I'm awaiting the arrival of summer vacation.  About 2 months left.

I Heart Faces/Shadows

This week's I Heart Faces challenge is shadows.  I took this picture last summer.  The boy's favorite past time is to play in the hose or on the Slip-N-Slide.  I love this picture.  It screams Summer to me.  In fact, the weather was warm enough this last week to play in the water again.  I have been busy editing photos this weekend.  But, I promise, I'll be back later this week with a crafty post.

New Sketch

All photos are 3 inches wide and 4 inches tall.  The big strip in the middle should be around 2 inches.

I Heart Faces/Best Face Photo for March

This is my entry for I Heart Faces this week.  That's my Maddie.  He is a firecracker.  He is always making funny faces, or funny noises.  He is a busy guy.  He is also the sweetest, most caring boy.  He was showing this face off for my Grandma, last year on her birthday.  She and my grandpa found him quite entertaining.