Hello Monday!

Ah, May 21st.  One month to the longest day of the year!!  Hard to imagine -- time just seems to fly by!

Hello, Annular Eclipse.  Yes, I'm in UT, although the Northern part.  And no, I didn't drive 4 hours to Southern UT to get the best view of the eclipse.  I guess I'm just not that dedicated.  The pictures on the internet did it justice.  (Although, if my DH had "suggested" the drive, I probably would have gone!) 

Hello, Vacation! It's hard to believe that over the next two weekends, two dear, dear ones to me and my husband will be graduating from high school. (Since we were unable to have children of our own, we live vicariously through our friends and relatives!)  

• First,  Hello, Bailee.  We've known Bailee since she was about 18 months old.  Mike went to college with her dad.  And her mom and I have been BFFs for, like, ever.  (Well, ever since about 1995.)  And we're godparents to her younger brother. She'll be going to college in the fall majoring in nursing.  She is sweet and funny, and we are so proud of her!  Isn't she gorgeous?  

• Second, Hello, David.  Our nephew.  This one, we've known since before he was born.  We officially met when we drove down and helped out my sister right after his birth.  And, oh, did I fall in love!!  Such a sweet, cuddly, happy baby!  (I'd post pictures, but I don't want to embarrass him!)  We lost his mom two years ago, and while I know it's been difficult for him, he has become such a wonderful young man.  Handsome, responsible, funny, kind, and compassionate.  I know my sister is proud of the young man he's become, and so are we!! See the breast cancer pin he's wearing?  That's in honor of his mom.  When I asked Debbie (the photographer) who's idea that was, she said it was his.  That he wanted to honor his mom in the pictures, and that he feels that she is with him.  Sniff.  (Side note -- he looks so much like her in this photo!)  Can't wait to get to spend 5 days with him and his dad! Here is his senior photo, courtesy of  Romeyn Photography.

Hello, "31 Things".  with Ali Edwards.  Check out the link (click on "31 Things") to read all about the class.  I'm having fun journaling along with her, telling 31 stories about my life.  Can't wait to put my album together when I'm through.  (I know, just what I needed.  Another online class. It's an addiction, I tell you!)

Hello, Laundry. Didn't I mention this last Monday?  Funny thing, there's more.  And since we're leaving on a jet plane, it kinda has to get done.  Soon.  Maybe I should try to invent self-cleaning clothes.  And self-ironing.  And self-folding.  Yeah.  I'm right on top of that, Rose.  (Name that movie!!)

Hello, Rain.  We had a lovely few days of cooler weather towards the end of last week, with wonderful, drenching rain.  My flowers on my back porch, and the roses in my garden out front, LOVED it.  Me, it's a love/hate relationship.  I love the rain, but not so much the mud that the girls drag in.  'Cause, you know, digging in the mud with all four paws is FUN, Mom!

Hello, HIDA scan.  Yes, unfortunately it would appear that I might have gallstones. Meh.  SO, off I go in the morning for this lovely "nuclear medicine test."  Doesn't that just sound pleasant??   As if gallstones aren't bad enough. 

What are you saying hello to this week??

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  

Hello Monday header is courtesy of Katrina Simeck. 

Until next time,

Hello Monday

Hello May 14.  As in, yay, we're done with Mother's Day.  I know.  I'm a bad person, but I really hate Mother's Day -- especially now that my mom and MIL are both gone.  But for me, whose goal in life was to be a mom, after struggling with 10+ years of infertility and treatments, and just this past year having my tubes tied and an ablation done so there is no more possibility of being said mom, it's a day I can well do without. (If that was an over-share, I apologize.)

Hello, yummy, tasty Mango Salad.  Made for dinner last night with items from our bountiful basket.  Seriously, a new fave. 

Hello, healing puppy.  Our Sadie-bug, (75 lb. lab/shepherd mix) has been suffering from skin allergies the past couple of weeks, and then on Thursday, had a cyst on her back that ruptured.  Therefore, hello trip to the vet to have it lanced and cleaned.  Looks much better after a weekend of meds and ointment -- but she looks funny with the big shaved spot on her back!  (Shh, don't tell her I said that!)   

Hello, beautiful rosebuds!  My rosebushes are being slow to bloom this spring, but are FULL of buds getting ready to bloom!  I just hope we get to see some of them before we leave for graduations! 

Hello, sweet great-niece!  You are growing so fast -- I wish you lived closer so I could just squish those sweet cheeks and hug that sweet little body!  (And, yes, the sand is blue.  Apparently, Crayola makes colored sand.  Who knew??)

Hello, frozen coffee.  (Frozen mocha, if we're being technical, with peppermint and and extra shot of espresso.)  Lovely little local place.  AWESOME coffee.  Although my hubbs would disagree that this actually qualifies as coffee.  But with 80* weather this week, I'm thinking frozen sounds pretty dang good. 

Hello, recumbent bike.   Hoping to get my grove on and build strength in my legs and back in preparation for our summer trip to AK this year.  Of course, this means cleaning out our downstairs to make room for the bike . . . trust me.  You don't want to see those photos.  I don't need any of you reporting me to Hoarders.  

What are you saying hello to this week?  

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  
Hello Monday header is courtesy of Katrina Simeck. 

Until next time,

For the Love of Mothers

To all the wonderful women I know who are mothers -- Happy Mothers Day.  You are so blessed to have children, and they are blessed to call each of you "mom."  

And most especially, to my mom, and to my mother-in-law -- you were both such shining examples of what being loving, caring, selfless mothers should be.  You both brought such joy into our lives, showed us how to live, raised us in godly homes, healed our hurts, enjoyed our successes, encouraged our dreams.  You are both dearly missed, today and every day, and we send you love and hugs and kisses. 

Until next time,

Hello Monday

Can you believe it's already the 7th of May??  I can't!  The year is almost half over!  Here are some things I'm saying hello to today:

Hello strawberries!  I picked up a flat with my Bountiful Basket on Saturday, and have been rinsing and cutting all afternoon!  I LOVE strawberries!  (Apparently, so do the puppies!  LOL!)

Hello laundry.  How can two people create so much laundry?  It's beyond me.  Well, that, and I tend to let it pile up, because I don't like to do it.  But that's beside the point.  

Hello menu making.  I'm still trying to get better about planning a weekly menu and going grocery shopping once a week, especially now that we're getting most of our produce through www.bountifulbaskets.org (awesome program, BTW -- you should check it out!). 

Hello haircut!  I'm off to see my own personal wizard, Cindy Lou, tomorrow, for a trim -- just in time for our 2 week graduation trip coming up!

Hello soreness.  I cannot tell a lie.  We cut down our cherry tree on Saturday.  Why, you ask?  Well, it just had . . . issues.  The biggest of which was that there are apparently not enough "male" bing cherry trees in our neighborhood, so we didn't get a lot of flowers or fruit.  So, a "Stella" will be replacing the Bing in short order.  Apparently, "Stella" doesn't need a man.  ;)  But sawing all those branches down to fit in the pickup?  Oh, my aching shoulder!

Hello barbeque!  SO excited for warmer weather and full propane tanks!  That means yummy grilled dinners -- tonight it's bratwurst.  Along with the fresh produce, it makes for a yummy meal! 

Hello Bible Study.  So happy to be able to join in with my family this afternoon on our Bible Study.  I've been out of the loop for a couple of weeks, and it feels good to be back in the Word!  

Hello Blue Skies!  Looks like perfect weather this week.  Sunny, and in the low to mid 70s.  Perfect.  Yep.  Lovin' it.  :)

What are you saying hello to this week?  

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  Like the cute header??  It's made, and used with permission, by Katrina Simeck. 

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

Happy May Day!

Of course, among my favorite things about May, beyond the whole "April Showers bring May Flowers" thing, is, it's National Scrapbooking Month!  Whoo hoo!  And THAT, of course, means that Close to My Heart has a stinkin' ADORABLE paper packet that you can get for next to nothing!!!  The entire month!!  Just look at this yumminess:

Did you read the fine print there?  You can get the Dotty For You Paper Packet for just $5 with a qualifying purchase.  FIVE DOLLARS.  For 24 sheets of high-quality 12x12 scrapbook paper.  THAT, my friends, is just 21 cents a sheet.  How can I get this goodness, you ask?  Well, let me tell you!  

For every $35 in products you purchase from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book (through May 31, or while supplies last) you qualify for a Dotty for You paper packet ($19.95 value) for just $5. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, cardstock weight, coordinating B&T Duos^® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert.  I know.  WOW!  Right?  But read on:

There are also two ways you can get this darling paper packet FREE!

• Hostesses will receive a free Dotty for You paper packet when their Gathering sales total $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile donations). This would be a great time to book a gathering, have a fun girls night with some friends, and earn FREE product!  Email me to book a gathering today!
• Anyone who signs up as a new Consultant with CTMH from now through May 31 gets one FREE with their kit (which is a STEAL!  It's only $99 and you get over $300 in products). To sign up, head to my website, click on "Opportunities" and then "Be a Consultant."

Stay tuned over the next few days, as I'll be sharing some cute artwork I've created with the Dotty for You paper pack.  Until next time,