hope

Oh, so behind on pictures for July...and lots of other things in my life.
Someday I will catch up.
But don't we spend our whole lives telling ourselves that???

For now, I wanted to send you somewhere else...

If you read my post about little Kate, you know about this little 5 year old girl who needs prayers. And so do her mommy and daddy.

I continue to check Kate's Caringbridge journal everyday. Reading and hurting with her family. Hearing and hurting for the new life they all are living. Praying for each request her mom and dad leave...the praises and the needs.

I know some of you check this too and I know you are praying.

You may or may not have found Kate's dad, Aaron's blog. Here's the link.
I just spent some time there and am just feeling led to send you there too, for a series of posts he is writing...

"hating cancer is making me yearn more for heaven"
"hating cancer is making me more genuinely value the Father's love"
"hating cancer is making me plunge deeper into the Gospel of Jesus"

I know, I know, you read those titles and think "WHY would I want to go read that depressing stuff, I don't feel like crying or feeling sad right now"
I promise I am not sending you there to make you cry or to cause you to sit and be depressed the rest of the day. Honestly, it may cause the complete opposite. It did for me.

Aaron's words offer SOOO much hope. If anything on this earth can take away the sting of sickness, pain, and death.....it's the hope that he speaks of in these posts that can.

He's also connecting his thoughts and words to songs...so you can listen to the songs he has chosen to go with each post.

I realize we are still human...we will feel the pain and suffering of this earth no matter what.
But thank goodness, for those who have accepted the most precious gift of all....this life is temporary....pain is temporary...we are only passing through.

We have hope. And this hope can get us through the darkest of dark days and the most painful of painful times.

Jesus conquered death.....so that we can live.

Pinocchio!!

A few weeks ago, all the cousins (except Mason) went to see Pinocchio at Crown Uptown....a dinner theatre that does daytime shows and meals for children.


My nephew Jaden didn't want to be in this picture, as you can see.

Taylor was very excited....

Until she saw this guy...


The other kids LOVED him! I guess he's the mascot of the theatre, so he's out the entire time before the show begins. And that was a LONG time. Taylor was terrified...crying, shaking, clinging, wanted to go home to daddy. Papa took her outside and then sat with her at the back of the theatre until he went away. (this is a bad picture, but I tried to get a shot of them sitting way back in the back)


For those of you who have been to Crown Uptown for a children's show...I'll give you 3 guesses what we had for lunch!!!

After the show, the performers signed the kids' programs. It was so cute seeing Taylor hand her paper to them to sign. She really had no idea what they were doing, she just knew she was suppossed to give them her paper. This is Gipetto (Pinocchio's father).

Such a fun outing for the 2 of us girls.

And wouldn't ya know, the only thing she ever mentions about this event is of course the one thing she was terrified of...the fox. I think we have heard about the fox every day since the show.

from texas to topeka

WHEW!!! I feel like it's taken me all week to recover from last weekend.

Every July is Premier's National Rally/Convention in Ft. Worth, TX.

It is one of the highlights of my year....for many reasons that you would never understand unless you are there.

We headed out at 4:45am on Wed. morning. Although we had 8 other girls with us, my sister-in-law and I had to be there by 1pm for our leadership training. We made it JUST in time!

There was LOTS of talk and getting pumped up about the leadership cruise that's happening in March...WOOHOOO! I've never been on a cruise and our first one will be for 7 days and if I work like I plan to this fall, it will be FREE for both Dave and I!!!

Thursday started the general sessions at the Ft. Worth Convention Center Arena
We had AWESOME speakers and entertainers...

These are the PD (Premier Designs) Singers...made up of jewelers or husbands of jewelers from across the country....they entertain a lot and are SOO good!

We laughed really really hard at Chonda Pierce - stand up comic, television host and best-selling author...

I always LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing my girls get recognized....

Of course, one BIG highlight of Rally is the introduction of the new line of jewelry on Thursday afternoon...

And just in case you're wondering...the new jewelry is pretty much the best it has EVER EVER been! It's so up to date with the latest trends and I'm SOOO excited about SOO many pieces!!

I was excited to have Dave there with me for just a few short hours. It took a lot of planning, but it ended up working out perfectly for him to ride down to Ft. Worth with his aunt and uncle who were vacationing past Ft. Worth. They dropped him off Friday afternoon so that he could make the drive to Topeka with me for a wedding.

I was able to get him a guest past for a few hours.....which happened to be right during a concert by Point of Grace...


They were SOOO good and so much fun!

I can't even begin to explain why rally is one of the best weekends of my year....you'd think we just go there and hear about jewelry, and learn how to sell more jewelry, etc. That's what I thought it would be like before I went for the first time 5 years ago. But I guess when you're a part of a company that was founded by 2 of the most godly people I have ever known, these are NOT the things that fill up our schedule at rally. I LOVE that the time I invest in this weekend helps not only my business, my attitude, my motivation, but my personal and spiritual life as well.

Rally wasn't over till Sat. evening, but Dave and I left Friday at 10pm and headed north, stopping in Norman, OK (bad town, bad town! too much crimson and cream) to get a few hours of the drive out of the way before we had to make it the rest of the way to Topeka on Saturday.

I was sad to leave early....but I couldn't miss the wedding of a great friend from college.

We gained a little bit of time, having gotten a few hours out of the way the night before, so we stopped back at home on our way to Topeka and decided on a whim to take Taylor with us. We missed both of them SOOO much and we knew she'd have so much fun and do great traveling with us.

And boy did she have a blast...

When the music started she was a little shy at first...

but that obviously didn't last too long, especially with help from her daddy

She even insisted on joining in on the electric slide. I'm not a big fan, so I just stood by and watched and saved her when those high heels were getting too close to her little toes.

It was so exciting seeing Sarah so happy. The ceremony was beautiful....VERY God-honoring, not JUST the traditions that have to be done. I definitely shed some tears...but I'm just sappy like that anyway.

Congratulations Andy and Sarah!!

We drove back home that night, got home around midnight and I crashed harder than I have in a LONG time! I think I'd like to stay put for awhile.

cake class

I have fallen quite behind on July pictures. It's bad when my husband says "you haven't blogged in awhile" I'm impressed he noticed.

So I picked something I could post about quickly.
My cake class.

I was inspired by Julie and her cake making skills and decided to get some friends together and take the class too. I've been trying to make the kids' birthday cakes each year and plan to continue, but I knew there was a lot I didn't know.

We're taking the class at Michael's in Wichita. It's just once a week for 4 weeks. There's some prep involoved and we have to make A LOT of icing to practice with. My icing didn't taste good AT ALL. Pretty much tasted like shortening. I should have just used the recipe I got from Julie, which we used for my niece's Barbie cake (it was DELISH!) But I followed directions and used the recipe from the Wilton book. Next week, I think we are ALL trying this other recipe - half butter, half shortening, and not just shortening.

Buttercream Icing

1/2 cup Crisco (white)

1/2 cup salted butter

2 T. milk1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. butter flavoring

1 drop almond extract

1 lb. powdered sugar

1 T. meringue powder

Cream shortening and butter until smooth. Add flavorings, milk and meringue powder. Add powdered sugar and mix until creamy. (In class we learned to use water instead of milk and then your frosting can be stored in air tight containers and not have to be refrigerated, which make it nice for class)

I torted a cake for the first time. I didn't even know what that meant. I was proud of myself when I did it though. Yeah, I'm amused by the little things sometimes.

We had to go to class with our cake frosted and be prepared with a picture that we were going to put on the top. Since I was out of town, and had no time to be creative, I just did the class example - a rainbow.

I forgot to take pictures of the progress, so you just get the final product.


It happened to be my niece's 5th birthday. So I decided to write her name on it so the cake would have more of a purpose than just sitting on our counter and then go in the trash.

Don't look too close. After pulling out all the icing I needed for practicing in class, I barely had enough to frost the cake, so it was SOOO thin. You can see cake peaking through in some places. AND, because it was so thin, I worked forever trying to get the cake all covered, and ended up pulling up lots of crumbs in the process. Obviously, I could have made more icing. But since it was just for class purposes, I didn't feel the need.

In class we learned how to do things with teh star tip and the writing tip and we learned to make the Wilton rose, just like the ones in this picture...

(I DID NOT make this cake, stole it from the web)

I wasn't so good at the rose. But we'll practice it again next week, so we'll see if I'm any better.

Next week we're going to learn how to pipe figures.

I've really enjoyed this class. I feel like I've learned a lot of the basics and things I wish I had known sooner when I did the kids' cakes. If you have a chance to take the class....you should!!!

And here's a fun idea.....make this rainbow design on the outside and do THIS on the inside! Dave said it would be too much rainbow....I beg to differ!!! You can NEVER have too much RAINBOW!!!

the work continues

I'm getting a little behind on our house project updates. Or maybe my husband is just going really fast!

Here's the hole in the ceiling where the old wall/fireplace used to be

Can you see all that icky stuff up there???
And we thought the messy part was over...
When Dave was pulling the last boards off the ceiling, this huge pile of insulation plopped out of the ceiling...YUCK! A very unexpected mess.

Taylor has been a great helper!



Time to raise the floor...
Bye, bye carpet





We now have all one level of floor and the ceiling is patched and will be completely fixed soon.

Dave's getting so anxious, he has even started to build the fireplace.
Here's a front view, as if you were sitting on the couch in the living room (because that's what I was doing) The stone will go up to the ceiling. And the front of the fireplace will have a bench/hearth at sitting level.

And this view is more towards the front door.

We're still struggling a bit on the fireplace. We can't do it on the wall we originally wanted to because the electrical box is on the other side. So we are now building it on the wall shared by the garage. Dave does NOT want to build it into the garage and lose space there (we have a fridge and freezer on this wall that will be hard to relocate). So the fireplace will be built out of the wall in the living room. I have worried what this will look like from the front door....you'll see the side of the fireplace just sticking out. We are planning to blend it with some shelves on both sides.

We plan to get a new TV, as we haven't had one upstairs (well, except the little one in the kitchen). But we REALLY don't want it above the fireplace. So we are planning to create a cabinet on the right side of the fireplace, in the corner, where the TV will be. It will angle towards the center of the room, rather than being set in straight with the wall.

We're just not quite sure on the fireplace plan yet. In fact, at one point today, Dave asked if I wanted to just scratch the whole idea of the fireplace and do a wood-burning stove in the corner. It's an option but I don't think it's the option we'll be taking. We just have to figure out how we want this wall to look.

If you have any suggestions, we'd love to hear them!

Next steps:
New paint color - something to go with the red in the kitchen/dining room
New carpet that will cover this living room area
Start saving for new TV
Finish fixing the ceiling
Make a decision on the fireplace plan

once was lost but now is found

My phone was lost, but it's found now.

I lost it in a field.
In grass up to your knees.
And I rode on a trailor behind a tractor all over the field, so it could have fallen out anywhere.

We searched a little before it got dark
And we went back the next day and searched some more.
I really wasn't that bummed at first.
My phone was broken anyway, and I had insurance.

BUT THEN, I remembered all the numbers I was losing.

I've been able to transfer numbers from phone to phone for 9 years.
And now I was going to have to start from square one.
With Dave's number, the only number in the whole world that I know by memory, except 911.

So I started the collection of numbers (which many of you are aware of!!!)
I paid my $50 and got a new phone in the mail overnight.
I had about 7 numbers in my new phone

AND THEN....

My old phone was found!
Our dear friends who graciously entertained us at their farm, went out and searched for my phone on their own. They found it within 15 minutes. I think they were looking in the area that was assigned to Dave when we were out there! (haha)

So, I have my old phone that now is deactivated BUT my numbers are there.
I have my new phone with 7 numbers and we soon learned it was not holding a charge.
And the 5 button doesn't work.

So the new phone now has to be returned.
As soon as they get confirmation it is in the mail, they will send my new one overnight. I'm hoping to get it today. And then can take my old phone in and have them transfer all my numbers.

I better get it today. I'm leaving for 4 days on Wednesday and I'm not sure how that will be without a phone. But although I dropped my return package off by 10am, it wasn't in the system at 5pm last night. Meaning, my new phone was yet to be sent.

Moral of the story: Pay insurance on your phone, and don't put it in the pocket of a pair of shorts that you are quite aware that it has slipped out a handful of times before, and then get on a trailor (sitting up on the side) and go riding all over a field. And if you do, wait at least 48 hours before going to buy a new phone, in case it shows up.

sweet little kate

The words aren't coming easily right now, as I'm just following my heart in posting this information (that I was led to by a friend's blog), so we'll just see where this goes...

Tears are streaming as recent and still present emotions come flooding back...

But this is how the world learned about Cora.
This is how the world knew to pray.
This is how the Lord was glorified
As the family of God, joined together, trusting and believing that our God IS a good God, and that "All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose". Romans 8:28
No matter what.

Although I realize there are many, many people, young and old fighting for their lives from the countless number of horrific diseases our world is plagued with, right now my heart is drawn to the McRae Family.

Kate needs our prayers. And so does her mommy and daddy.
Kate is 5 and she is beautiful.

On June 29th, they found a massive, aggressive and malignant tumor on her brain.
She is fighting for her life.

You can read the journal on her caringbridge website HERE

Or watch these updates from her parents here and here

Our world is full of pain and suffering.
And things that should never happen do.
We could spend ALL day blog and internet surfing and reading of horrific stories that people everywhere are encountering. And I will ashamedly admit that many times, these "distant" stories that I sometimes will come across impact me for a few minutes and then I click on.

It's easy to become TOO immune to the pain of this world until it hits close to home.

Things are different now.
I'm sad that things are different now.
Things are different for me and for many of my dearest friends because of this dear sweet little girl...


and her precious precious mom and dad who miss her and ache every moment of every day.

I sit now and think about all my friends who graciously and willingly passed on the prayer request I sent out for Cora. I think about how friends of mine who don't even know the Macs, prayed for them, spread the story through their blogs, and truly, genuinely became attached to this dear sweet family. And it wasn't just my friends. Friends of friends of friends from the Macs to the world, all spread Cora's story....thus spreading the testimony that Joel and Jess had to share. A message that changed the lives of many.

I don't know Kate.
I don't even know if I know anyone who knows Kate.
Kate lives in Arizona, and I heard of her through a friend's blog who also lives in Arizona.

But this is what I can do. This is what others did for my friends.
And I do believe that miracles DO happen. God has a plan for each life. And as his plan unfolds, I know that he desires his name to be glorified and his people to trust in all that he does. We don't have to understand, we just have to go to him.
Kate's parents are trusting in God and are asking that the Lord be glorified through all of this, they have an amazing testimony.

So I am asking you to pray for Kate and her mommy and daddy, Aaron and Holly, and her 2 siblings, Will and Olivia. Take some time to read the journal and watch the videos, specific prayer requests are mentioned.

Tablerock 2009

This year we didn't make our normal trip to Michigan as we have in the past for the 4th of July.

So next best thing...Tablerock!

We started the weekend out at a party with lots of food and lots of fireworks...

My sister and her husband also joined us - the kids love Aunt Rebekah!

Mason didn't really like the fireworks.

But he didn't cry or scream.

He just cuddled into me and hid.

And fell fast asleep with fireworks going off all around him.

I was not complaining one bit.

The next morning we made a quick trip to see my grandparents.

They both live at the same facility - but in seperate areas.

My grandma doesn't need much help, if any at all - so she has her own room and is enjoying all the activities they offer her!

My grandpa needs more care so he's on the other side of the building.

We weren't used to seeing my grandpa like this.

Seems like just last year he was up and around and the same ole grandpa we always remembered.

So although Grandpa doesn't look his best - this is still a very special picture of us with him.

Then we spent the day on the lake,

and joined hundreds and hundreds of other boats, including some friends from Winfield,

to end the evening with a fireworks show from Chateau on the Lake and....

 ...some sparklers!

fun at Build-a-Bear

Taylor's cousins are 11 months apart. One birthday is in June, the other in July....so how fitting for a 3 and 4 year old to do a party together at Build-a-Bear Workshop! Although I believe they were both 3 at this party...funny stuff!

This was our first time at Build-a-Bear....and I will admit that although I was excited for Taylor to be at the mall for this party, I was even more excited to be at the mall myself...it just seems like I NEVER make it to the mall. Target, yes. Sams Club, yes. A few other stores, sometimes. But the mall, NEVER. So of course I had to sneak away during some of the party and hit some of my favorite stores. Thanks to Aunt Stef who took pictures while I snuck out.

pushing the foot pedal that blows stuffing into her bear...

giving her bear a shower and a good brush...

Here's the birthday girl and boy!


and the whole birthday crew..


Taylor seems to rebel against pictures sometimes. She did NOT want to be in this one until Papa bribed her with a mint. That is the only reason she ran back and stood there and gave us this cheesy grin. For a mint.

The child opened their party favor gift to find a build-a-bear outfit that Stef found at a garage sale....perfect, huh?!?! Each bear got an outfit that was a fraction of the price of the outfits in the store!

kiddy rides

Last week, our small group took all our kiddos to the carnival in town.

I wasn't sure Mason would be able to ride anything. I asked what the restriction on height was, and they said, there wasn't really one for the kiddy rides, as long as they could hold on.

Well, I wasn't really sure what he'd do. At Silver Dollar City, he didn't hold on very well, but those rides were a lot bigger and the handlebar was further away.

So we gave it a try. The worker said they could stop it if he didn't. And since we were pretty much the only ones there, it was worth a shot.

Wait, did I just say "WORTH a shot"?
HA!
He sure was cute and although he just lounged sideways and didn't hold on at all, he stayed put.
But I am not sure if "WORTH IT" is the right thing to say.
$2.50 per ride....total rip off!

We started with 5 tickets, thinking that would be good enough for Taylor. Not realizing we would have 2 riding.
Note to self....5 tickets=$12.50=a measly 10 minutes of fun for 2 kids

Taylor used the last ticket to ride by herself!


It was fun, and we may even do it again....BUT, total rip off! I'm not sure what we'll do when our kids are old enough to realize that riding on 3 rides just isn't fun enough.