Friday Fill-Ins

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1. Apples are to oranges as Opie is to Diesel (My puppies couldn't be any more different).

2. I am so happy its Friday and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear a great country song playing with people dancing (oh a girl can wish).

4. I love the American flag.

5. Do what you want to do, but I am going to find cotton candy and bud light to enjoy this weekend.

6. My friend Paul was running and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with water, Super Soakers and Water Balloons (It could happen…this weekend in fact)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Watching Star Trek, tomorrow my plans include to get my hair dyed (finally), go swimming and get some sun, and watch Twilight while eating pizza with friends and Sunday, I want to go to church and celebrate my Moms!

Show & Tell Friday - May 8, 2009

For more posts and information about Show & Tell Friday, please visit Kelli at There’s no place like Home.

This week I am sharing something that makes me smile every day here in the land of cubicles where I work. One of my friends Sarah made this wonderful Terrarium for me.

It has some wonderful succulents that I am hopping not to kill too soon.


And this wonderful little path that reminds me of a trail to the beach or someplace wonderful.

I am desperately looking for miniature pink flamingos to decorate this little treasure of happiness with. Sarah is a really creative spirit. She also has an amazing green thumb.

God is so good at blessing me with people who are such jewels in my life.

Thankful Thursday - May 7, 2009

Please visit Lynn at Spiritually Unequalled Marriage for more information about Thankful Thursdays.

This Sunday is the yearly celebration of the women who created us, fed us, taught us, and loved us with their whole hearts…its Mother’s Day.

These women come in so many shapes and sizes, with thoughts and feelings as diverse as the stars in the sky, yet we take one day to tell them all Thank you. Over the last two years I have had the bliss of loving two Moms.

The first Mom is the woman I have had the pleasure of loving for almost 30 years. I am “of” her. When you look at us…you will see the genetic connection. We have similar smiles, similar faces, in fact most of the world can’t tell us apart when we answer the phone…there is no doubt that I am her daughter. Until I open my mouth and you might hear a bit of my father. Through the years we have had our ups and downs as any relationship does, but there was never an end in sight. There is a great comfort in loving and being loved by a Mother who knows and loves the Lord, because she knows how to Love you despite yourself. She has taught me to be organized, to care about those around me, to love my husband with everything I am, to be proud of my tender heart, and to listen to the call of God in my heart.

The second Mom is the woman my husband has loved for 31 years. She raised an amazing son in the middle of total chaos. Their home life wasn’t always an easy place, but he has never known a day without her praise, hope, or love. He gets his strength, compassion, and flexibility from her. He gets his eloquent speech, attention to detail, and joy of music from her years of encouragement. He would be such a different man, if she wasn’t a part of his life. This wonderful woman graciously stepped aside when I said “I Do” and has given me the most wonderful gift. She has allowed me to take on the role of his wife and the first lady in his life with full trust that I can succeed in the role. She has taught me so much: to be pliable, to understand large family ties and relationships, to meet people where they are at.

How do I thank someone for all that? How do I honor someone for all of that? This year I pledge to love my Mothers like there is no Tomorrow. So show them that they are truly important to us and our family. I will support them when the world crashes around them, and play with them in moments of sheer joy. I pray that these women know their true value, and understand the great blessings they are in our lives.

Happy Mothers Day!

Word Filled Wednesday - May 6, 2009

I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you.I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. Leviticus 26:11-12

These are some of "My People". They are family and friends that I hold with a firm grasp in my heart. They all play such wonderful and important roles in my life. I know that my life is so blessed for having each of them in it.


Can you imagine the Almighty God feeling this way? Can you imagine his laughter and delight as we skip and play our way through life? Can you imagine his sorrow and frustration when we choose decisions that hurt ourselves or others? Can you imagine sitting across from him sipping some tea and playing a game of Apples to Apples? I find myself longing to feel the same closeness with God that I do with my loved ones....and then I hear it in the back of my mind...."Sweet Child...I am only a prayer away"

20 of My Favorite Things

1. Color-Pink – Any Shade

2. Dessert-Coldstone Ice Cream – Cake Batter with rainbow sprinkles and Caramel.

3. Smell-Out board Boat Exhaust

4. Flower-Pink Tulips

5. Animal-Killer Whales

6. Month-May

7. Beverage-Sweet Tea

8. Pair of shoes-the Uggs I am hoping to get for my birthday.

9. Snack-White Bread with Peanut butter

10. Song- Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

11. Book-Phantoms by Dean Koontz

12. Fruit-Strawberries

13. Hairstyle-Twisted up with a Claw Clip

14. Piece of clothing-my new jeans, they fit just perfectly.

15. Store to clothes shop-Kohls

16. Season-Spring

17. Hobby- Sewing

18. Thing to collect-Blue Birds

19. Movie-Gone with the Wind

20. Restaurant-Sonny’s Italian in San Clemente

Special Thanks and Blessing to Peggy at the Simply Woman for hosting this post.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - May 4, 2009

FOR TODAY …May 4, 2009

Outside my window... 65 Degrees…and Cloudy

I am thinking...about the value of me working. We are trying to make some plans for our future and determining what we want that to look like.

I am thankful for...team at Family Life and A Weekend to Remember. We returned yesterday from our marriage conference filled with hope and some lessons learned, but exhausted…it was certainly a weekend we will never forget.

From the kitchen...Cookies for the Hubby

I am wearing...Teal and Black shirt, black Slacks, a black ballet style flats.

I am creating...A photo book for Ryan for our 2 year anniversary.

I am going...shopping with my Mom tonight. My Dad and Ryan are taking part in a men’s bible study tonight, so we get to have a little girl time.

I am reading... The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wives and Daughters, Lady of High Regard

I am hoping...that we can use some of the principals we learned at our marriage to move forward with some of our plans.

I am hearing...lots of complaining. We have had a lot of changes in our company with some restructuring of teams and responsibilities. Change is never easy!

Around the house...time to tend to my little strip of dirt that I affectionately call my garden. Last night my husband surprised me by hanging some butterfly lights that my Mom got us last year on our patio. It now looks like a fairy land; I just need pretty pink flowers to go with them!

One of my favorite things...My new necklace that I got from Kellie at KMWOOH at Estsy.com. It has a cross and a tab with my last name initial “S” stamped on it. It’s a reminder to me of what my priorities should be, my relationship with God, followed by my relationship with my husband, and then everything else.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Shopping with my Mom tonight, Date night at Color Me Mine (A ceramics paint shop) on Thursday, Star Trek Movie on Friday, Rest Day on Saturday, Church and Mothers Day on Sunday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

We complete each others gaps!

Special Thanks and Blessings to Peggy at the Simple Woman

Show & Tell Friday - May 1, 2009

Please visit Kelli at Theres no Place Like Home for more Show and Tell Friday!

This week I am sharing some of the flowers my Mom and I saw last weekend at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA. We decided to have a Mom and Daughter day to rekindle our bond, and spend some time enjoying one another’s company. This was a day that we will both treasure for years to come.

The Flower Fields specialty is Ranunculus. These beautiful flowers are just a byproduct of the marketplace. The fields are actually grown for bulb distribution, but for 3 months a year the hillside is practically painted with a spectacular array of colors.




My favorite part of visiting the flower fields was the amazing rose garden they have. I have never seen such variety of color, smells, or names.





They also feature an Artist Garden that reminded me of what you might find out at a French countryside Chateau.



It is truly amazing how all of these flowers can take you to so many places and dreams all over the world!