Love and Faith was his message

A young boy fighting cancer from the age of seven. As a Church we prayed for him and all rejoiced when the cancer went into remission. Many in my church, myself included, struggled over the next 11 years when we heard he was sick again three more times. You finally come to a place where you accept that maybe this was his purpose, a visitor on our earth for a short time to help us all realize what's really important. He liked to say that we are all going to die but he was given the gift of knowing when. A very interesting way to look at it, a person's perspective can have such a profound affect on how they live and die. A very good friend of mine once did a semester long internship with a Hospice agency. I remember her telling me that people die the way they live.

This life challenges me and I am thankful for the reminder and the challenge.

Clayton'sstory.com

Gum Alley

In a neighboring town there is an alley the locals call gum alley.

A little alley tucked away in the downtown. It is called gum alley because since the 1960's people have been putting their chewed gum on the wall. We finally remembered to show our kids the alley last fall.

Most of the gum is just a single chewed piece, but some people get elaborate and write words and draw pictures with the chewed gum.

It is weird, gross and sort of amazing all wrapped into one. My offspring who are germ phobic and love hand sanitzer, voted for mostly gross!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Photo Story Eye Spy

Look closely.....my very own version of Eye Spy
Do you see two people in those trees?

My Artist is in the tree above in a white shirt.

My Bookworm is in this tree in a red shirt.


We have since had a talk that they were way too high!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

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My Bookworm on a Photo Safari

Today I was running to town to take my Artist to a Birthday Party. I left my Bookworm home with My Love. Sometimes when Dad is busy working on the property, he hands our girl the camera so she can entertain herself. She started surprising us a couple of years ago with some really great shots. This is a sample of the best of what she captured today.

Final Curtain

What do you take your 14 year old boy on closing night, while all the girls are getting flowers?

A money bouquet.

He did a great job and we are so proud of him. We are all a little relieved and sad it is over. Yesterday a stranger approached us in the grocery store to say "Hey you were great in that play!"

It was surreal to watch my Artist on stage singing and acting. Five years ago he almost didn't go to the charter art school because he might have to be on stage! The beloved secretary who is known as the queen of the school, assured him he would never be forced to perform on stage. Now in his last year at this school he is front and center and loving it. It is so important to remember children are a work in progress, what they hate one year may be their greatest passion the next. This experience of acting and singing will stay with him, I hope as a reminder that everything and anything is possible.

To make a money bouquet you curl the edges of the bill away from the center then twist the center and place on a wooden stick, use dark twist ties and keep going. we gave him an even dozen!

Oh Brother

Two of my brothers and their wives came to town to visit. One from out of state and one from a different part of California. My two brothers who live close by also joined in the fun. We were pleased to have the company of three of my beautiful adult nieces.

Highlights included:

My brother recording our 93 year old father reminiscing about his life. (3 hours worth!)

Some live bluegrass music, courtesy of two brothers and some good friends.




Alot of laptops, we are quite a "techie" family.


At one point there were five of us with laptops running.

I love my big brothers and their families. I feel very blessed to be part of this big family. We had a fantastic visit. To check out more photostory friday posts click here.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Drama Mama

I have been neglecting my blog and wine sales, while helping out with my son's school play.

Kudos to all you Soccer Moms and Dance Moms. I have done the Karate Mom thing and now my daughter is in gymnastics, but nothing has been as consuming as this Drama Mama gig. Since I don't sew, I signed up for program duty. I was blessed with a wonderful hard working mom, who is helping me.

My duties include; selling ads for the programs, collecting ads and money, and developing flyers for all of the above. I was also in charge of taking pics of the kids for the program. I took a group shot of the; principals (9), daughters (14) , police (17) and pirates (twenty something). Thank goodness for digital photography! Out of 15 shots of each group I had one or two where I actually had every kid looking at me with eyes open. I also helped out with tracking down feathers for the costumes.

I am so proud of my son, he is doing well with all the rehearsals and memorization of lines. I loved my high school drama teacher and am so excited that one of my children is dabbling in one of my passions. It is a production of the Pirates of Penzance.

My Kids Thoughts on my Bloggy Hobby Revealed

On the way to a friend's house...

...an interesting traffic jam presented itself that was making us a little late.
As I tried to take this photo, my children started in...

14 year old Artist, "Why are you taking a photo, Is this for your blog?"

9 year old Bookworm, "Hey she needs to prove why we are late."

Bookworm, "Why don't you like her blog it is just a way for her to remember good things in our life, like the turtle." "Do you remember the turtle?"

Artist, "What turtle?"

Bookworm, "See you don't remember it, but her blog has it all remembered."

Artist, "oh whatever."

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek For more photo story friday posts click here.