Signs of spring...

Batter up....

Softball has started

school carnival = cake walk and gold fish prizes

tea party invite requiring a hat to celebrate the royal wedding

blooming Myrtle nestled in fresh green

bright and happy Tulips spot the yard with color

little pretty dandelions smile with a smirk 

 crab apple blossoms wave in the wind

the back yard hammock is hung for an afternoon swing

Lilly of the Valley buds swell ready to display their bells

and Mama Robin is perched protecting her young.

Thank you Spring, you offer such wonderful blessings.

I ruined the royal wedding!

I had a dream that I was a bride's maid of Miss. Catherine Middleton (AKA: Kate),  and in THE royal wedding!  I was beautiful in my "pretty-in-pink" lace v-neck gown, oh ~ but my shoes weren't just right and we were in line to go into the church.  Lucky for me there were stores all around and I only needed to slip out for "a minute".  But when I returned, the groomsmen had already ushered the pink frilly girls into the sanctuary.  The media were snapping shot after shot.....oh, why did I need to run out and miss the grand entrance!?!  So I tried to slip in inconspicuously  but I was certainly noticed, AND, I must have left my purple flower bouquet at one of the shops!  Gulp.  Princess Kate was so very annoyed with me after the wedding and could barely look my way.  Terrible, just terrible.  

Now, ask me what HER gown looked like?  
I have no clue.....no memory of it even in my dream.  We'll have to see tomorrow.  You know I'll be cking out the bridesmaid's dresses!  If they are pink lace, I may swoon!  And if their bouquet's purple.....

Rain, snow or shine.....

We head to the beach whenever we go up north to visit my family;  rain, snow, or shine.  I grew up on Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes.  Our Easter trip held lots of rain and fog....call me crazy, I still love the beach.  I feel as if I breathe better on the beach.  Always good to see something bigger than yourself and to be in awe of God's handiwork.  And the girls, well sand, rocks and water...say no more!  So, here's a shot or two from this rainy trip North.

Bay Village, OH

This shot is heading down to Columbia Beach, one of the smaller public access beaches in town.

The waterfall is raging unloading the creek's overflow from our heavy rains.

Some of the houses on the Lake have a main house and a beach house....

I'll have to get some good shots from out on the lake and 

show some of the pretty little beach houses on a sunny day ;)

Enjoy your day, whether you have rain, snow or sunshine!

A Good Friday "creed" for you....

Third Day and Brandon Heath recorded Rich Mullins' "Creed"  ~ ahhh, just awesome and perfect for Easter weekend.  Blessings!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3i-_VWxOAc

Flooding here in the 'Ville.....

Kitty kitty......

 

Searched high and low.....where did this cute kitty go?

WHEW!  

We found her just in time!

 Funny, Edward, real funny!  ;}

Summer Sunflower House

 It's time to think of summer planting.  This odd shaped garden doesn't look like much right now but  with a couple packets of sunflowers it will be an oasis.  A sunflower "house" is the perfect respite from the summer heat and the perfect place to perch little ones for lunch in the shade.  Our summer sunflower houses have taken several forms as you will see below.
We began with a very basic version that only requires two packets of sunflower seeds of various heights, a sunny spot, and water.  The kids love to pitch in and can really be involved from the start.  The first decision is what shape your house will take, we chose a horse shoe, but a rectangle or square will work just as well.  Don't forget to leave a grassy opening for your door.  It's easy to dig the proper depth trenches along your shape and then have your kiddos drop the seeds spacing them according to the directions.  If they need help measuring the spacing, cut a length of cardboard the proper length so they can use it as a guide.

Sunflowers grow pretty fast and with a bit of tending they will quickly show kids reward for their labor.

 

Soon enough they will be perching under the broad leaves. Blankets, babies, bears will join the party and all will enjoy.  Maybe a mom or two as well ;)

The perfect place for a shady summer nap =)

 

 For the past six summers we have had various versions of a sunflower "house" in our back yard.  Our latest version has included a more sophisticated entrance.  We arched chicken wire over the opening with PVC pipe. This allowed us to plant sugar snap peas making an edible canopy.  We even planted cherry tomatoes in front of the arch so the tender fruits can be plucked and enjoyed at whim.

This year we plan to do all of the above but also add morning glory amongst the sunflower seeds.  The floral vine should grow up with the sunflower stems and when the stems get to a reasonable height we will string twine back and forth at the top across the semi circle between the yellow blooms......rumor has it that the morning glory vine will grow across the twine making an amazing floral ceiling.  I'm looking forward to pulling out the sun hats, gardening supplies and purchasing seeds......oh yeah, can't wait for those fresh faced toothy smiles too! 

What's your Guilty Pleasure?

C'mon, we all have one....or two!  They are the things that make life just a little bit sweeter but for some reason we feel guilty about partaking.  They're not bad, just a bit indulgent for one reason or another..... Is it an afternoon snooze?  A slushie at the grocery?  The perfect pair of heels? How about reality TV?  Do you sing ABBA songs in the shower?  Play hookie? Why do we feel guilty about these simple little occasional indulgences?  I'm lovin' my latest and shhhhh, I didn't even feel too guilty buying it!   I'll share mine....won't you please share yours?  I'd love to hear what makes you say, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/almond-supple-skin-oil-100ml.htm
 It costs WAY too much at $32.00 for just 3.4 fl.oz but smells AMAZING and my skin is SOOOOO soft after using it.  I love the scent so much I will steel a smell of my arm during the day ;0  It's Enriched with almond proteins and oil and essential oils of peppermint, palmarosa and Immortelle, works to protect the skin's support tissue and fight against loss of elasticity. Who couldn't use a bit of that?  So, after I clip coupons, shop the bargain racks, and condense my trips to save on the gas station bill, I will not feel sooooo guilty about my little "guilty pleasure".  We all need to experience a bit of grace and goodness in this wild busy world.  And, in return, I may be a bit more patient and "supple" with my friends and family.  Ahhhhhhhh, a benefit for all.  ;-)  Bon bon's anyone?

Adoption Alert!

US Adoptions are happening more often and faster than you might believe.  Many avoid domestic adoption due to the false belief that they will have an extremely long wait, I want to bust that myth.   Not only am I an Adoption Assessor who has the privilege of watching families formed through adoption on a regular basis, I am an adoptive mother too.  It took a whole whoppin' 7 weeks for my placement.  YES, that is mighty quick...quicker than most...  BUT I see adoptions happen so often that I have decided to post an "Adoption Alert!" every time I hold one of these newly placed blessings.  So, to catch up on 2011, I have already held ELEVEN-11, yes ELEVEN freshly born and placed newborn infants, just in my regular circle of daily work this year.  Can't show the baby I'm holding in this photo, but can you see the joy in my eyes?  I am so thrilled to hold these little blessings and to see the joy in the Adoptive Families' eyes.  It happens friends, have hope.   Ck out this info  posted on adoptivefamilies.com site, "Despite myths to the contrary, domestic newborn adoption remains alive and well in the United States. Current estimates of the annual number of infants adopted domestically (excluding foster and relative adoption) range from 25,000 to 30,000—more than all international adoptions combined. Moreover, the process can go much more swiftly that you might imagine. In a 2007 Adoptive Families survey, the majority of respondents were matched with a birthmother in less than 12 months, and 15% got "the call" to travel after the baby had already been born, without a prematch."

Have hope!  I truly believe that God has a divine plan to bring each child to their intended parents, no matter by birth or adoption.  Step out in faith!  Oh, and just in case you think I am favoring domestic adoption, really I'm not.  I also work with international placements as well.  Hmmmm, I think I will post each time I hold one of those freshly placed blessings as well ;).