Prayer . . .

I am a big believer in the power of prayer.  I pray more sometimes than at other times . . . there are times when I do not pray nearly enough, and like most people probably, I tend to pray more when I need something than just to tell God thank you!  I also believe that God answers our prayers according to his plan . . . which sometimes may make those answers seem a little vague and unclear.  

Then there are those times when I pray . . . and get such a quick, straight forward answer that I am left in awe.  When I turn things over to God and pray about them instead of worrying about them . . . and trust in his plan rather than mine . . . the answers to my prayers are there for me to see.  It always moves me and strengthens my faith when this happens.   

When you bow deeply to the universe, it bows back; when you call out the name of God, it echoes inside you." 

~Morihei Ueshiba

Good Sunday!

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ CRANES

 . 

 It was a good Sunday.  Richard and I hit some tennis balls . . . followed by lunch.  I love going out and hitting when it is hot like today.  It probably isn't the most sensible thing to do when the temperature reaches triple digits . . . but always fun and I really needed to get out and run today.  

 I also took a nap, something I rarely do . . . and now I find myself wide awake after midnight . . . a late night movie, I stuffed a couple of doll bodies, doodled in my journal . . . I really should go to bed.

I actually have to get up early in the morning.  I have a feeling that I may be regretting my late night . . . there's always coffee!

LIVE  ~ LAUGH ~ LOVE 

yesterday . . .

No real reason for this post . . . other than spending time with people I enjoy.
Yesterday was a good day . . . 

Halloween all year round . . .

With a little encouragement and help from my mom - I decided to display some of my Halloween decorations all year round.  I love this old cupboard that I have, but didn't really like what I had in it . . . now I do.  As much as I like Halloween - now I can enjoy my stuff more than just a few weeks out of the year.  

"There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch."

 ~Robert Brault

Don't Sip!

I haven't posted much this week . . . too busy enjoying time with my mom I guess.  She wanted a paper crane to tuck into a birthday card she is sending to a friend . . . I thought this was a good quote . . . and at least it gave me something to post about.  

"Nothing but heaven is better than a friend 

who is really a friend."  ~ Plautus

It still doesn't really feel like summer to me . . . I think I need to just take a big breath - and make myself realize that it is time to simply relax for a little bit.  Which I actually seemed to do this weekend . . . family BBQ, tennis, watching movies, a little time by the pool . . . 

Life is Uncertain, Don't Sip!

. . . Life is Good!

Summer

Mango Salsa - mango, red pepper, green onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and lemon juice

Somehow . . . as busy as I have been this week, I have managed to make little chairs out of champagne cages, make mango salsa (which was delicious on the fish tacos that Luke made), watch soccer and taste a couple of good beers, watch "Harry and the Henderson's" outside, play some tennis . . . and still manage to get a ton of work done - both at work and at home.  It won't be too much longer before I can simply relax and put work aside for a few weeks . . . I find myself so motivated this time of year - but it's me . . . I can always get distracted.  That tennis court and glass of beer look way more fun than painting my living room.  So we'll see what happens . . . 

I think I need to make a Summer Bucket list.  Not a bad idea . . what would be on your list?

Tonight . . .

Outside my window . . . a beautiful summer night . . . cool and a slight breeze . . . and a gorgeous full moon.

I am thinking . . . that I love staying up late during the summer.
I am thankful for . . . my mom.
From the kitchen . . .  way too late for me to be eating anything

I am wearing . . . grey cut off sweats and a turquoise cami

I am creating . . . not much – I have been so busy . . . but I l have been folding origami dresses that are really cute

I am going . . . to try to convince my brother to come out to visit

I am reading . . . Back When We Were Grownups  - by Anne Tyler

I am hoping . . . that the next 28 days goes by very quickly for two people I love very much . . .

I am hearing . . . it’s late and it’s so quiet – wait . . . Richard is talking in his sleep.  That’s always fun.

Around the house . . . ants!  I thought we had taken care of them . . . but I think they may be back.

One of my favorite things . . . hearing Charlotte call me “amma”

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . spending Father’s Day with my favorite Dads

From my picture journal . . .

 Peace ~ Love ~ Cranes

dressed up little dresses . . .

I am so lucky to be spending some time with my mom.  She thought my little origami dresses needed a little dressing up . . . so we got out stickers, ribbons, buttons, and glitter . . . and dressed up the dresses.  We glittered some of the skirts . . . those should be fun to decorate tomorrow.  

balls and breweries . . .

Richard has been collecting stickers for our ball tube . . . 

yes, we get excited over little things like this . . . 

Life has been crazy, busy lately - so much so, that I haven't taken much time to go out and hit.  In fact I have simply been working way to hard.  It felt so good to get out there and run, even if it was over 100 degrees.  In fact, I think it felt even better because it was hot.  

The weather is supposed to cool down some this week - if you call 95 cooler. 

Hello Sweet Summer Time!

Charlotte . . .

more dresses . . .

My new obsession . . . I think these are so cute, and like everything I do - once I get started - I can't stop.  So do I fold 1000 of them . . . that would be so unnecessary . . . but so something I would do.  Unlike my paper cranes - there is really no meaning behind 1000 paper dresses.  I will have to think about that for awhile . . . 

pool time for the girls . . .

Some women are dripping with diamonds, some women are dripping with pearls, look at me, lucky me, I'm dripping with little girls.

 ~ From the musical "Little Orphan Annie"

origami dresses

 

I love these little origami dresses.  I found a tutorial here and thought I would try folding a couple.  Now I want to go out and buy new origami paper, but I also think they would be cute out of old book pages - or even wrapping paper or paper bags.  Easy and fun to make.

It's SUMMER!

 The last week of school is so incredibly busy  . . . the days fly  by because there is so much to do, yet I never seem to get enough done.  This may be partially because I have learned that no matter how much there is to do - it is important to also take the time to have fun and enjoy the good stuff.  I have posted several pictures of these wonderful ladies . . . they are simply wonderful.  I have found out that people have changed their routes to work in order to drive by our school.  I can't even count how many shouts and honks they got . . . just while I was out taking this picture.  I am wondering what they have in store for the first day of school?

 I have seen so many cute cookies and cupcakes lately . . . this is one of my favorites.

 

I am learning to fold cranes with fingernails . . . or rather to fold them as quickly as I do without fingernails.  I still am not too sure about keeping these nails up . . . not too sure if I even like this design - but I do like the black one.

 Take me out to the ball game.  I sometimes miss the days we spent at baseball games when the boys were young . . . the good thing is it starts over.  This little guy loves baseball already . . . that's my kind of kid!

 . . . and with the last week of school over and done with . . . and the temperatures hitting 100 this weekend - I declare Summer has officially started!