More Projects

It's been a while since I've posted any projects. I just haven't been able to get my wonderfully busy husband to get any pictures lately. I plan on giving him his "honey-do" list this weekend.;o) Anyway, these pictures are of Ellen's birthday gift. Her birthday was on August 1st but I was at the Stampin' Up convention (woohoo!) so we celebrated the following weekend. I forgot to have Robert take pictures until after she had already opened her gift. Surprisingly, Robert happened to have his camera with him.;o) You won't believe this, but the box I wrapped her gift in was actually one of the boxes our lunches came in at convention! You know you're addicted to stamping when you look at your lunch container and think, "I can decorate that!". And you are even more addicted when you can say that out loud to your best friend. The pictures aren't the greatest since he was on such short notice and didn't have access to all of his equipment, but I think you can get a pretty good idea.



I'll post more projects this weekend.

Feeling Moved...

I heard both of these songs back to back this morning. They each move me every time I hear them. Apparently I needed to be moved for God to play them both for me today.

AMAZING LOVE...Billy James Foote

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, to honor You

You are my King
You are my King
Jesus, You are my King
You are my King


INSIDE OUT...April McLean

Fool that I am, thinking no one understands
The tears I've cried, the pain I choose to hide,
No one sees, lookin' at me.
All except for One,
Tenderly looking on with those eyes of love.

It's from the inside out, it's from the outside in,
He's lookin' through my lies, lookin' through my sin.
He who knew me from the start sees my heart
From the inside, inside out.

Fools that we are, covering each and every scar.
The broken dreams, the bitter fights and schemes,
No one knows, with doors discreetly closed.
All except for One,
Tenderly looking on with those eyes of love.

It's from the inside out, it's from the outside in,
He's lookin' through your lies, lookin' through your sin.
He who knew you from the start sees your heart
From the inside, inside out.

Panda Party!

We finally had Lily's Panda Party today! She had so much fun and loved playing with all of her friends. She was having so much fun playing, she had absolutely no interest in opening her presents, so I opened them on her behalf. She did, however, thoroughly enjoy her cake. It was hard cutting into such an adorable cake, but it sure was yummy! Robert's sister, Ellen, came over last night to help me decorate it. It took us about 3 hours to finish, but she sure came out looking as cute as can be! One of Lily's friends was so funny. He is almost 10 and as I was getting ready to take the cake out to sing "Happy Birthday" he said, "I can't eat the panda cake. I'm a vegetarian!". (Trust me...he enjoyed every bite of the black ear he and his brother shared!) As I was cutting the cake, another one of Lily's friends, Jocelyn, (who just turned 5) kept telling me she wanted the pink heart. Lily grabbed her fork and picked the little pink mouth from the cake with a very determined look on her face. Several of us watched with no idea what she was going to do, and would you believe it? She handed it right to Jocelyn. Now is that the sweetest thing ever?!? We are truly blessed with a very giving and caring little girl. The more I know her, the more she just melts my heart. Here are a few pictures for now. I hope to have more up tomorrow.

Blowing out Lily's birthday candle.

She enjoyed her cake, but I think she liked the chocolate chip ice cream the best!

One happy birthday girl.

Opening Lily's presents (notice she is nowhere in sight!).

I'm Still Here!

It's been a while since my last post. As usual (ugh) things have been busy lately. We just got back from our vacation to Medford, OR on Wednesday and have been busily preparing for Lily's birthday party tomorrow. She turned 2 while we were in Oregon so we had a little party for her there, but tomorrow is the big Panda Party. My sister-in-law came over tonight to help me decorate the cake. It came out soooo cute! I made a couple of birthday banners for decorations and we'll have lots of balloons and streamers up. I'll be sure to post pictures after the shin-dig. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Robert's still been updating his blog, so you can read all about our traveling adventures, including a second surgical procedure for him at one of Medford's finest hospitals! He has lots of pictures up from our trip and the first of Lily's birthday celebrations. I'll have more birthday pictures up soon!

Our Daughter is a Genius!

The day before his surgery, Robert went out front to water the lawn. Lily insisted on going outside with him, so we all went to play in the yard. As Robert was watering, Lily of course wanted to help. (She loves to help with EVERYTHING!). He let her help for a while, and then very bravely turned the reigns over to her, so to speak. She was doing great spraying the water all over the front lawn. All of a sudden she looked a little concerned and said, "Hep pease!" Robert walked over to help her and as soon as he was within reach, she lifted up that nozzle and sprayed the heck out of him, laughing hysterically. How did she have the presence of mind to pretend she was having trouble so she could get him to come over to spray him?!? I didn't catch the initial event (you never have a camera with you at those moments), but we did manage to get a little of the fun on video as well as a few pictures.

Robert's Doing Fine

Well, he's doing as well as can be expected. We picked him up this afternoon at the surgery center. We went to the little room where he was and I tried as best I could to explain to Lily what was happening. I told her "Daddy has a big owie and we need to take care of daddy". She looked at him in the hospital bed and said, very sadly, "Daddy owie. Poor poor daddy". She wanted to climb on him right away and when she couldn't, she insisted on giving him a kiss. She wanted to help him with everything. She helped him put his shoes on and she helped the nurse push him in the wheelchair. The whole way home she repeated over and over and over again, "Daddy owie. Poor poor daddy". This little girl is very empathetic and very concerned about her daddy. Have I ever mentioned that she is just the sweetest thing? I think her spiritual gifts may be mercy and service, but I'm sure it's too soon to really tell. Anyway, we are thankful God has answered our prayers and that Robert is safely home here with us. We love you daddy. Get well soon!

Home Again and All is Well

First of all, I had an amazing time in Salt Lake City! I didn't get to see much of it...the convention kept us pretty busy. The lake looked really nice from the airplane though! We had so much fun and got lots of new stuff. We got to make several projects (I'll post pictures soon), buy lots of stuff at the Momento Mall (that's where they sell convention memorabilia) and got tons of new ideas. I'm having my New Catalog Open House this Saturday and can hardly wait! But more importantly, Lily did incredibly well while I was gone. God must have really prepared her heart for my being gone. Almost always she cries in the morning if I'm not the one to get her up...even daddy won't do. But she didn't do that while I was gone. She was happy to see her Nai Nai and from what I've heard, they had a pretty great time together. I am so thankful for that. Thank you Nai Nai! It made the trip so much more enjoyable knowing that she was doing so well.

On another note, Robert is having his gallbladder surgery tomorrow at noon. If it comes to mind, please pray for everything to go smoothly and for a quick recovery. We leave for Oregon a week from tomorrow, and I just want him to be comfortable so he can enjoy the trip. The doctor said he should be fine to go...a little uncomfortable and it probably won't be a good idea for him to drive. That's fine as my mom is going too, so she and I can take turns driving. I just pray the surgery and recovery go smoothly and that he won't be in a lot of pain.

And on one more note, for those of you who may be interested in following up with Steven Curtis Chapman and his family after the loss of Maria, they are scheduled to be on Good Morning America this Wednesday, 8/6, on Larry King Live Thursday, 8/7 and they have an "extensive feature" in People Magazine scheduled to be on shelves 8/15. I pray God will be glorified as they proclaim their faith in and love for Him, even as they walk through this valley. They know Gods' promises are true and He has promised never to leave or forsake us, and that all things work together for good...for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I pray many will seek Him after hearing what the Chapmans have to say.