Shutterfly IS my best friend...

... when it comes to preserving memories and cherished photos.

Over and over I hear from friends and family, "Do you still scrapbook?" The answer is, "Yes!" The simple truth is, I no longer stock up on paper supplies and schedule parties or pre-register for 'crop night.' Thanks to Shutterfly's beautiful (and easy) digital scrapbooks, I can upload my cherished photos (which they will store for me as a free back up system) and pop them into an album. I generally add a little bit of text and BAM, I'm done in just minutes! It no longer takes me weeks, months, years to finish a memory book. I can now finish it in one sitting (sometimes 2). Not only does this same me time, but it saves me a lot of money! Traditionally paper scrapbooking not only takes a long time but it costs A LOT, per PAGE! I no longer have to print each picture, crop it by hand, tape it down, add all of the borders and creative paper art on each page... nope. I can pick a simple digital template and slip my digital pictures into it, do some 1 or 2 click crops and I'm done. I LOVE IT!

Shutterfly offers far more then scrapbooks! They also offer personalized Christmas Cards, Make-Your-Own Calendars, Return Address Labels, Birth Announcements, Party Invitations and more.

Even BETTER... if you sign up for a free account, they will send you promotional coupon codes! I rarely ever pay full price for my amazing products. In fact, I've been blessed with an average 3 free photo books and hundreds of free prints each year for the past 3 years (if I had to guess). In fact... they are offering me more free stuff just for writing about their wonderful products.

Hugs... and love to you all.
-Angela

VIOLIN ~ Emily's Patient Wait is Drawing Nearer

I love the look on her face. She's truly in a heaven-like state when holding the violin. She's so eager to learn it. Now we just need to settle on a formal instructor and purchase her violin. ;0

Emily and Luke with Jan, a local violin maker.The kids, at one of their lessons with Ms. Sarah.Luke is focused on playing high tempo rhythms. Clearly Joshua Bell has inspired him. Emily on the other hand is most inspired by the slow, angelic-like pieces from Bell's 'Romance of the Violin'. Here she's practicing 'Twinkle, Twinkle," Suzuki's first violin piece. In the violin workshop, looking through the vault of violins waiting for service by Jan. Anna was so kind in showing us around the workshop.

Tuesday we will attend the local children's symphany orchestra parent's meeting. At the end the kids will play the Suzuki songs in order. I'm sure Emily will be inspired and wishing she could play with them.

Emily chooses her first Bible

Today was one of those milestones parents cherish... their child receiving their first Bible (full version, not child's story book). For some time Emily has been asking for one, which lead Keith and I to plan for a personalized Bible this coming Christmas as our gift to her. Then she asked to be baptized last spring. Life was such a blur with so many emotional happenings filling our lives that we completely failed to present a Bible to her at that point... still Christmas was on the planner. Well, today she found THE Bible she wanted at a local used bookstore. She begged and pleaded to buy it as her one special purchase for the day. I was a little torn knowing we wanted to select one as a surprise for Christmas, one that would have her name engraved on it. A special gift if you will. But in her heart I could see THIS Bible was the one for her. And yet, selecting it as never used at a fraction of the cost we were willing to invest... how Biblical. It doesn't matter where it comes from or how fancy it looks... it's God's word that will fill her heart, life and soul for the days of her life.

Shortly after leaving the store I realized she is receiving this gift on 9/11/10. This Sept. 11th isn't just any ordinary Sept. 11th post-THE 9/11, but is more. For the past couple of weeks a local pastor threatened/declared to burn the Kuran/Quran which has sparked much controversy. Local churches and people spoke out against it, urging that we must LOVE our neighbor, not show hate toward them. As a result, great threats were placed on Americans, Christians, our town, etc. FBI and CIA agents flooded to our town along with hundreds or thousands of other law enforcement... truly making us a marked target. This pastor eventually changed his mind, but still, on this day she is receiving the book of truth that will sustain her in the hard days ahead and provide joy, hope and a promise to take her to eternity... on the very day that others were planning to burn and crush our Muslim neighbors.

May her heart forever be filled with His love, His truth, His glory. May she hold His truths dear to her heart and show His love and mercy in her words and actions.
Love you Emily!
-Mom

Taking School Outside the Classroom!

Taking school outside the classroom and giving them opportunities to meet famous, life changing people... a walking history lesson. Not only did we get to hear John Fabian (STS-7 and 51) speak, we asked him questions and were able to meet him. After a day at KSC, why not hit the beach... and observe wild life, the fishing industry, practice printing and much more while creating some art!

The biggest jelly we've seen yet.

Seaweed!

Missing you Keith!

A perfect way to end the evening :)

Kiddie cocktails and a virgin dacquiri... our little night cap to celebrate a great day of learning!

Her final remarks, "I LOVE homeschooling!"

So much to catch up on... Summer 2010 *July*

Michigan Pictures... story to follow.

Oh July... such mixed feeling I experienced this July. We started the month on vacation, visiting family in MD/DE. I thoroughly enjoyed my daily morning run and the cooler temps, sunny days, beach, and on and on. I also had a great time with my camera. ;)

Just before heading to MD, my dad was experiencing several odd symptoms that turned out to be cellulitis. In early July I remember calling my grandmother to chat. The last chat was the weekend of July 4th. It turns out this was my last opporunity to talk to her. We had our usual conversation. She wasn't feeling her best, she didn't really understand why she was still around, she shared her enjoyment of watching the birds from her front window, she talked a little bit about the weather or what Clifton was doing, etc. And as usual, when I reminded her we were planning to return next summer to see her, she made sure to remind me she might not be there. And me, as per the usual, played it down and kept the positive tone. I knew though... I knew, just was hoping it would be later versus sooner. Not long after that converstaion I got the call that she was in the hospital.

Still... vacation carried on (while I kept daily updates on my dad and grandmother), as did life upon return to FL. Here are some experiences that I remember:

July 16th - My son has dressed himself for bed... pj shorts and a winter fleece. It gets more fun every day! He's been wearing winter bottoms for the past few days... so shorts is a GOOD change. LOL.

July 17th - In reflection recently, I realized it's a lot easier for someone to forgive another when offended if they are currently heart-focused on Christ. It is much harder to forgive an offense that took place before your heart was focused on Christ.

July 26th - My dear, sweet grandmother, is now in the arms of our precious Father. May she dance once more and sing His glory.

(It turns out she passed while I layed in bed praying for her, praying God's will for her, praying for her to pass peacefully. I was taken out of prayer time to receive a call from my mom with the news. It was 10:30p. I began packing my bags (the kids were already packed) and preparing to leave in the morning. Keith began checking on flights, etc. An hour later I called Irma to share the news... I'll never forget that conversation.)

July 29th - Lord, hear my prayers... sustain me today. Protect us in our travels and help us through the events of today. Amen.

(Grandma's funeral was scheduled for the afternoon of the day we were flying in... just a couple of hours after our flight. I hadn't been able to sleep for days at this point and only managed to rest for one hour before driving the kids and a friend (who graciously tagged along to help us) to the Clearwater airport for our 7a flight. We left just before 3a, arriving to the airport without any problems. I remember dressing the kids in the bathroom after we were checked in and ready. They were amazing! Our flight was amazing too. I was SO tired, but we made it. Then the ride to Coldwater, lunch with my parents and Dan... and then to the funeral home. I was a bit stunned when the minister and family asked me to speak for Grandma. Just stunned. Thoughts of how tired I was... the emotions, I just didn't know if I had it in me. I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to help. He did... He really did. After briefly talking to the minister (and struggling with the tears of his insistance to describe her as a Proverbs 31 woman), I asked him if I could use Psalm 23. He was a bit taken back with my request but agreed it could be mine to use. The words that I shared and addressed with the family were truly of the Holy Spirit. It was all that had been on my heart for so long, and those that I believed were on Grandma's too. The need for forgiveness. The need to find that place of peace. The minister backed up my words and reinforced them. It was truly beautiful and I trust they were pleasing to our Heavenly Father and to my Grandmother. And... He DID sustain me. He truly did!)