ANOTHER CUTE PICTURE

I LOVE THIS PICTURE

HERE'S OUR FAMILY

I am so excited to share with you some pictures that we had taken a couple of weeks ago. A good friend of mine has started an incredible photography business. She has a wonderful eye for photography and a very creative approach to capturing your family's personality.

I usally dread "picture days"...but this one was no stress at all. We dressed very casual and the children really enjoyed the day.

I want to help Emily's dream come true and I encourage everyone who reads this blog to make an appointment with Emily and her partner Angela.

Here is her website:

www.sweetdreamsphotography.net

Here are a few of the pictures.

Go Emily...dream BIG!!!

HOW DO YOU SAY I LOVE YOU

One of the many lessons that I learned since my grandmother's death, is to make sure you say I love you.

I find it interesting how each one of my children respond.

Mom: I love you
Ashley: I love you too
Alex: I "wuv" you (in a pretend baby voice)
Ally: just rolls her eyes
Austin: gives me the thumbs up

I'll take each response...I know what they mean.

A TEAR IN MY EYE

AFter a busy week of cleaning and throwing away...we finally had time to sit down and relax. While everyone was inside my grandmother's house...I chose to go out and sit on her front porch all alone. I actually sat in her chair. The chair that is in the exact place that it has been for years. I looked out onto her street and noticed something. Every single house on the street had a front porch. It seems like this is something you rarely see in new homes today. My grandmother would sit on her front porch everyday except in the winter. She would enjoy her beautiful yard. She went sit out and talk to her neighbors. It dawned on me that the porch would never be the same. She would never sit in this chair again. I began to cry at the finality of this. I asked myself...what would I say to her if we could have her back for 5 minutes. I know that this is just a dream, but someday...I will have her for eternity. It's almost 9:00 pm. Guess where I have been for the last hour? Sitting on the front porch of my parent's house. There is something very special about a front porch. It's a place where we all finally slow down and talk. If I ever build a house...I want a front porch.

HELLO FROM WEST VIRGINIA

I am currently in Charleston helping my family clean my grandmother's house. It has been quite an adventure. Each time I sort through a drawer or a closet, it's like looking into her life. We have found pictures of past homes and of family members that have passed away. We have discovered glasses from a restaurant she once owned and beautiful vases hidden under debris. I am excited about a trip that we are going to take to her family's graveyard. She chose not to be buried there, but her parents and grandparents are there. I am told you have to hike to the sight and pray that you don't meet a snake or two. I am also exicted about what Ashley is helping me and my best friend Sandi do. She is training us to run a 5k in October. The Bible says that all things are possible with God. I also want to leave you on a humorous note. We were driving through Twinsburg the other day and I pointed out to my son Alex that the local fortune teller had went out of business. He replied..."Looks like she didn't see that coming."