January 25th

Falling in love again with Erica Wheeler. First heard her on NPR in '96 when we lived in CA. We instantly fell in love with a song titled "Maryland County Road" long before we knew the next roads we traveled would be Maryland county roads. I hear a little of Craig and the girls every time I hear it.

Erica Wheeler

listen to Maryland County Road

and

The Harvest

and

Goodnight Moon,

and

Sober Harley Guys,

and

Colorado Town,

well...

I think you get it...

listen

to

them

all...

Kindness triumphs!

The details aren't as important as the fact

that it took place. A problem was solved, people smiled at one another

and for just a moment, in spite of the cold,

everything felt warm.

I want to be kind to everyone for that is right you see...

January 23rd

This is a Christmas tree ornament that

I'm planning to keep out all-year round!

It is a reminder of the Caring Cousin gift exchange that

purchased a lamb through Heifer International this year.

I'm proud of our children for their willingness

to forgo gifts in exchange for doing something for someone else.

Can't wait to see where their gifts go next year!

Heifer International

Sheep - from a great etsy shop

January 22nd

Our Disneyland pictures are out

of our cameras/computer

and into our hands!

Fabulous

Fast

Fun

Colors/pages are just like they were on-line.

I only wish the small books (9x6) could

be ordered with a hard cover.

Send me a quick email if you want to see all of it

and I will send you an invite through scrapblog.com

(check your spam if you don't see the invite soon).

January 21st

fingerless gloves:

brown/pink - taken by E

black/burgundy - given to C

fall colors - for a friend's daughter

where are mine?

love my new knitting project bag - thanks wb!

January 20th

It is (CELEBRATION)(SQUARED)

at our house today!

Miss Em is 14 and

President Obama is #44

...congratulations to both!

January 19th

...speaking of "official"

Our first "official" snow

as viewed from the front porch.

January 18th

I love my ezpass

I love Cara
I didn't love using my ezpass
to take Cara back to school
Christmas break is officially-officially over now...
(interesting reflection in rearview mirror of me taking the picture)

January 17th

????k??n C????w??d ?ic????a??

Don't use it often but it save me on occasion!

?

January 16th

I need help...

I think I might have a problem...

My name is Lisa and I am addicted to scrapblog.com

January 15th

I'm having too much fun...

scrapblog.com

January 14th

The Other Book Group for January

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

I'm not the only fan - see who else lists it under favorite books...

?

January 13th

Sadly I must report that

Christmas is officially over...

January 12th

Favorite Foto

from

The Holidays!

three daughters-three smiles-three books-three friends

ccw

January 11th

Does this fall into the category of

"never eat anything bigger than your head"?

walkers shortbread

because if it's not scottish ...

January 10th

Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune--without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me

Emily Dickinson

January 9th

I don't donate because of the free stuff although I must admit the cold diet coke certainly sweetens (without adding calories I might add) the deal. I credit my dad with this lifelong habit.

I remember three things about tagging along with him when he donated:

1) He always teased the phlebotomist that they only

got one chance to hit a vein.

2) He always said taking the bandage off later was

more painful than the needle-stick.

3) When they asked if he was going to be doing

anything strenuous afterward he always laughed and said,

"Just going home!"

January 8th

Confession:

We go to Krispy Kreme

after we have been to our dentist

whose office is

next door.

doughnuts and no cavities

win-win-win

January 7th

10

for a

Dollar

berwick offray outlet/hagerstown md

January 6th

Fingerless

finery

finally

finished:

No more cold hands!

wonderful yarn - easy pattern

January 5th

Really, what more is there to say...?

January 4th

Never goodbye...

always - See you soon!

Is it too soon to start counting the days?

January 3rd

Taboo: ta⋅boo
1. proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable.
2. family fun at which the girls always trounce the parents.

Trounce: trouns

1. to beat severely; thrash.
2. to punish.
3. to defeat decisively.

Long gone are the days that we let them win on purpose....

January 2nd

Incredible: dinner and company

Niwano Hana

January 1st

Blogging

definitely opens up an entirely new world. It is an opportunity to

keep in touch

with old and new friends. It is a chance to

share

creative thoughts and ideas. It is a place to

support, cajole, challenge and

inspire.

However, at the end of the day no matter how much we think we know

about someone from reading their blog it is

JUST A GLIMPSE...

This is what 13 looks like...

As one of her birthday "gifts", Emily was treated to a new haircut (Emily and Miriam must be on the same wavelength - no pun intended). I guess I should explain... hair cuts aren't actually viewed as gifts - but hair cuts at the salon I go to are :) I usually send the rest of the family to Hair Cuttery and treat myself to something else (read more expensive). However, if they are going for something other than a trim (a new look) I usually take them to Raquel (she is the genius behind Cara's frequent color changes)


Emily was disappointed and nervous at first. The girl who swept up her hair kept saying, "Wow that's a lot of hair, that really is a lot of hair." Raquel quickly realized that was freaking Em out and did her best to cover. The top picture is how is was done at the salon - Em really didn't like it. That night she performed in a band concert and a couple of friends(?) said they didn't like it at all. We had a long teary conversation afterward.

The next morning we flipped it out and she felt better but was still nervous - "Do I have to go to school today?" After school she jumped in the car gave me a huge smile and said, "I owned it, Mom, just like you said and everyone LOVES it!" The only drawback is I'm still curling it every morning and our am time is tight - makes the mad dash from Seminary back home a little more exciting.

SPT - A 25th Hour

First an admission, I don't like calling people on the telephone - I will do just about anything to avoid responsibilities that involve calling a list of people. I am also a fairly ruthless screener when it comes to incoming calls - don't worry, I always call back - sometimes I just need that extra time that screening and listening to a message provides. I have also been known to call when I purposely know that I will get someone's voice mail - my bad. That said, I love to talk on the phone to a select number of individuals - **and you know who you are! So what does all of this have to do with today's SPT - A 25th Hour?? If I had an extra hour (that couldn't be used for napping) I would use it to catch up on the phone with family or friends!
**My DH has often promised that one day he is going to have a goldsmith make a small gold yak charm that he can send to the family and friends that I love to talk to on the telephone. He has suggested that we should all be initiated into the Benevolent Society of Yaks!

Guess Who is Turning 21 Today?

She is artistic.

She is creative.
She is a fashionista.
She is a great conversationalist.

She is a conscientious student.
She is sensitive.
She is an Alpha Phi.
She is a shopper.
She is a good cook.


She is organized.
She is a blogger.
She is determined.
She is spiritual.
She is young at heart.
She is sweet.
She is a planner.


She is kind.
She is successful.
She is a photographer.
She is a good friend.
She is a scrapbooker.
She is delightful.

She is our Alicia!
Happy Birthday!

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet

We received a phone call last night telling us of the death of President Hinckley. Although not a surprise - so many different feelings. Earlier in the day I had spent time preparing for seminary. I had planned to talk about Samuel this morning. For once, the fact that I am about a week (or so) behind with regard to the official seminary calendar wasn't a problem. In fact, it was a perfect segue to talk about the life of President Hinckley and our need to truly hear and heed (not just listen to) the prophet. I am grateful for his life of service, faith, and example and his encouragement to always try to do more and to do better.

May our faith shine forth as the sunlight of the morning.
May we walk in obedience to His divine commandments.
May He smile with favor upon us.
And as we go forward, may we bless humanity with an outreach to all,
lifting those who are downtrodden and oppressed,
feeding and clothing the hungry and the needy,
extending love and neighborliness to those about us
who may not be part of this Church.
The Lord has shown us the way.
He has given us His word, His counsel, His guidance, yea, His commandments.
We have done well.
We have much to be grateful for and much to be proud of.
But we can do better, so much better.
Pres. Hinckley

Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I love this book - I may have even posted about it before. I read it as a young mother and thought it had been written for me. I still remember being amazed that it had been written in 1955. I try to reread it every year and generally nag any book group I am involved with to read it as well. It continues to speak to me regardless of my changing circumstances or current challenges. It is indeed timeless...

Imagine my delight to hear an entire hour dedicated to discussing it. You can find a link here, scroll down and you can find real audio or windows media feeds. It was part of Diane Rehm's Readers Review (generally very good - helps you create a great reading list). Guests include the author's daughter, Reeve Lindbergh, as well as Kate Lehrer, an author and Lisa Page another author and creative writing instructor at GWU.

LUCKY #13

Happy Birthday Wishes to our Emily
who is now an official

Teenager!

While buying candles to go on her fruit tart (birthday cake is being saved for a party later in the week with friends), I realized that H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-D-A-Y has exactly 13 letters - so here go birthday wishes to Emily...

She always Has a smile for everyone.
She has an Amazing voice.
She has a Perpetual grin.
She has Personality plus.
She loves to Yak (phone, in-person, texting, etc.).

The girls got Brains and is a great student.
She is Independent
She Radiates goodness.
She is willing to Try new things
She is Helpful especially in the kitchen
She loves being in the middle of any kind of Drama (drama club, middle school drama, etc.)
She is a great Actress.
We hope 13 is her best Year ever...

Our Family from A to Z!

I'm delinquent in posting these pictures. The photo album was a Christmas gift that Alicia gave the us. Each page is a different letter of the alphabet and it is full of wonderful memories, including vacations, friends, places we have lived, things that we have done, and unique and funny things about us as individuals and as a family. I will treasure it always. The pictures don't do it justice - it is sitting on the table in the family room - drop by and take a peek!

The end papers of the book are these fantastic collages that span the past 21 years...

Every page is amazing and covered with ribbon and embellishments...

When you look at your life,
the greatest happinesses
are family happinesses.
~Joyce Brothers

Thanks, Alicia!

Get Your Head in the Game

We have Emily back!
She returned home from the land of High School Musical after:

tech week
late nights (at the theater until 11pm sometimes later)
long hours (see above)
much singing
much dancing
five performances
production party

The ever-present laundry basket is how all of the kids keep track of their personal belongings once they move into the theater. This is why several of our laundry baskets have faded versions of Cara's and Emily's names written on them in magic marker.

Each production brings with it new faces and new friends - as well as the chance to see old friends again. After the production party at the end of the run there is always a lot of hugging, sometimes a few tears, the exchanging of cell numbers and email addresses, and the inevitable knowledge that the coming week will bring a let-down of sorts. This picture is Emily's "Brainiac" costume. It also included a dark blue plaid skirt.

This is Emily's costume for the finale - "We're All in this Together". Everyone was in something red. I always enjoy being part of the back stage crew. I'm an amazing set mover! Unfortunately for this production the director didn't want us hidden and dressed in all black - he had us dress as janitors and they left the lights up for most of the scene changes. This link has a great article about the production from a local community newspaper.

Happy Birthday Vanessa!

Happy Birthday

Vanessa!

Enjoy your day today
and your party tomorrow!

Wish we could be there :(