Dad's 50th & The Cutest Nieces Ever!!!

A couple weeks back we went to Poky for my Dad's 50th surprise b-day party. It was a super quick trip, but fun to see family!! My Dad isn't a huge party guy, and after the initial shock of the surprise I think he felt okay about the party. He is such a great guy and father...I was really blessed to be sent to the family I was sent to-they're one of my greatest blessings!! With all that has happened on Eric's side of the family it has really helped me to appreciate my own family and any time that I can spend with them. We never know how precious life is, until we lose it. I am so grateful that I was able to go home to celebrate my wonderful Dad's 50 years with family and friends. I made the invites and the table cards and they said "Over the hill, but definitely still kickin". I think this describes my Dad to a tee...he doesn't let anything slow him down or hold him back, which was proved to us when on his birthday he was called as Bishop. Good luck Dad, we love you lots!! These other pictures are of my nieces...super cute kiddos!! I have been working on editing photos of them for awhile...most of them will be posted on my photography site http://www.simplemomentsphotographybyliz.blogspot.com/ so check it out if you want to see more (I will be posting them on there soon).
Family Time for all my friends!!
Liz

Tribute To The Fallen

"Fellow countrymen gather round and set your minds at ease. There’s nothing new for you to figure out It’s just your hearts we need. So kiss your mamas and say goodbye. But tell her not to forget about our fathers who bled and died so she’d have someone to miss. Most of you will be home again though some may find there way to Heaven. But rest assured they’ll arrive as free men.
I believe in this one because the cause is good and we won’t fight cause we have to but because we should and I can see what it is and what it means to be united. You can’t destroy the rock upon which freedom stands. Oh brothers it’s time for war again.
So wear your colors but wear them proud like millions have before, cause they were sewn by the hands of God and they’ve never ever been torn. Most of you will be home again though some may find there way to Heaven. But rest assured we’ll arrive as free men."

Time for War~Kalai

I found out today from my Mom that an old friend died while doing training to go to Iraq. It's saddening, and maddening all at the same time. My heart goes out to his family...nothing will ever make up for the loss they are feeling right now. I love this song by Kalai...even though I may not agree with, or even understand the full aspects of this war, I take comfort in knowing that there is life after death. This is the 3rd person that I have had some kind of a relationship that has died in this war. I know that millions of others have died before them, and that this pattern will continue until God redeems us all-but that still does not take away the shock and pain of it all. I truly appreciate all that our service men and women do to keep us safe, I just wish that there was a way to keep them safe as well. I do appreciate my freedoms, but I can't help but think of how alone it must feel to be over there unsure of how your life will unfold. I can't imagine the last moments of the soldiers who don't get to come 'home', and what must be going through their minds at the time. I only hope now that they can hear our prayers of gratitude, and hopefully now they will get the opportunity to fulfill their eternal missions...may god grant them the ability to protect their fellow soldiers, and may he welcome them home to their eternal resting place.

Be Still My Heart!!

Oh Boy!!!! I have a confession to make...I am in love with cute things!!! Seriously I cannot get enough!! Be still my heart-I have found a new cute thing to love!!! Felt shapes: flat, 3D, you name it-I want it. I seriously want to snap some of these up!! Can you imagine little kiddos playing with these instead of icky cardboard ones?? This would bring playing store to a whole new level!! These remind me of the knitted food that I used to see when I was little. I love how imaginative these people who are creating these are!! Some of these sample are from etsy...gotta love handmade goodness!! I would love to adorn my scrap room with some super cute cupcakes-yummy!!!

Soccer!!

Eric and I finally had a weekend off together, only 2 bummers...he hurt his knee and then I got sick!! None the less, we had the chance to go to Jackson together (to get his knee checked out), to go to the H.S. soccer games (it was sunny and beautiful), and to have a relaxing Sunday. He only has 2 more weeks of track so it will be nice to finally have our weekends back. I always joke that it's like I am divorced and I see him as often as I would if we had shared custody of children!! Ever other weekend, and occasionally for lunch and dinner. He has done really well with the kids though, he is a really good coach! Today I entered a design team contest for company that is new to me...and I totally love their stuff
(I has a sick day...thank goodness no strep though!!)!! Right up my alley!! Check them out here http://www.mylittleshoebox.com/, and be ready to be thrilled!! I have never even entered one of my pages, but I have decided that it is a new year and it's about time I stop holding myself back! Even if no one likes my stuff but me, that's not really why I do what I do-I do it because I love it!! It would be nice though to get on a team though, especially one that I love their stuff. Wish me luck!! Anyways, Eric leaves for Track regionals on Wednesday. So, I will be on my own scrappin once again!! Anyways, that's a catch-up on what we have been up to. Love to you all!!
Sunny days to all my friends!!
Liz

Inspirational...

These photo's are of Connie Culp after various surgeries: 1st, after being shot by her husband and 2nd, after her new face transplant.
This photo is of how Connie Culp looked before her she was shot by her husband with a shotgun.

I read this story today on http://www.msnbc.com/. I know these pictures are hard to look at, but when I read this story about Connie Culp...I got goosebumps when she said this.....

"Culp said she wants to help foster acceptance of those who have suffered burns and other disfiguring injuries.
“When somebody has a disfigurement and don’t look as pretty as you do, don’t judge them, because you never know what happened to them,” she said. “Don’t judge people who don’t look the same as you do. Because you never know. One day it might be all taken away.”
It’s a role she has already practiced, said clinic psychiatrist Dr. Kathy Coffman.
Once while shopping, she heard a little kid say, ‘You said there were no real monsters, Mommy, and there’s one right there,”’ Coffman said. Culp stopped and said, “I’m not a monster. I’m a person who was shot,” and pulled out her driver’s license to show the child what she used to look like, the psychiatrist said."

I know sometimes it is hard not to stare or to be curious about others, but I really found her statement to be inspiring! Her message is truly one in the same with what the Savior teaches. I think that it is amazing that she can have such a positive attitude, after what she has gone through. From being shot by her husband, various surgeries, and I am sure much persecution from others. I think it is a real blessing that medical practices continues to advance. I think it is even more amazing that she had the courage to do an experimental surgery, and even more so that the doctors and hospital are covering all the costs. It goes to show that ultimately the Lord's will will always be done!

Must Be The Luck Of The Irish!!!

Okay....seriously I never win anything and this last week I won 3 things!!!! I am so excited!!!! As some of you may know, Simple Scrapbooks Magazine, just closed their doors-so sad!!! Due to that they had a week full of giveaways from various SS workers blogs. From here I won the Simple Scrapbooks Play Final Special Edition Idea Magazine, and a prize pack!!! Then I just opened my e-mail and found that I won $50 worth of DCWV products for signing up for their monthly news letter!!! Seriously...how could a girl get so lucky in 1 week? It must be my Irish blood .:smiles:.!!! Now, not to push my luck...but I would really like to win the SS big prize giveaway...a new printer!!!! I have been without one since we were married, almost 4 years now (it will be this month on the 20th!). None the less, I feel very blessed and I was more than content with the 1st prize (the special edition magazine)...but all else since then has been a wonderful topping on an already sweet treat! Check back later this week for pictures from our quick trip home....lots of new kiddo pictures, and my super thrilled Dad at his surprise 50th party (he really loves parties-haha)!!! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and an even better National Scrapbooking Day!!! I have 1/2 a sick day today (gotta go to the dentist!) so I will be heading home to scrap-yea!!!

Cheers to all my friends for having and using sick days!!!

Liz

National Scrapbooking Day easy as 1,2,3

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Day the easy way!!! Sign up here http://www.studiocalico.com/ and create a new account (way cool ideas here). Then post a comment here http://www.studiocalico.com/forums/topic/12308 referring to me as your friend, and we will both be entered into a contest to win 6 months of free kits!! Pretty exciting huh? I hope you all have a great NSD!! If you live in Poky make sure you stop by Scrappin Essentials on Yellowstone-you'll get 20% your purchase (excluding kits and classes).
Happy scrappin to all my friends!
Liz