Memorial Celebrations

What do you get when you have beautiful weather, a sizzling grill, delicious food, a little country music, wonderful friends and two adorable little angels? A wonderful Memorial Day, that's what! 

With our coolers and grill in tow, we all set up camp for our afternoon celebration in the park! I'm still thanking the Lord above for the heavenly breeze He sent our way yesterday! It kept me sane to say the least. 

Iced coffees were sipped (and spilled!), juicy watermelon was slurped, and brawts were grilled (like my classy rhyme there? Totally didn't intend that!). We sat and listened to war stories shared by our military husbands and enjoyed the cuteness that belonged to Cooper and Emmy Beth. It was a wonderful way to spend such a special day!  

 Could he be any cuter? Seriously? :)

I hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend! 

How did you celebrate your day?

A Day to Remember

Today is a day we remember our fallen heroes. And there are over 2,400,000 in the history of our nation. While we are enjoying the activities of this day, may we not forget the price so many have paid to preserve our freedom.

To every service member who gave all on my behalf... Thank you.

Lest we forget the pain of sacrifice, I encourage you to read this article. 

It is a powerful reminder of the price of freedom: A Soldier's Reflection for Memorial Day.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone day down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

An Easter Celebration

We sat side by side in our love seat. Our smiles were genuine as we waited for the automatic timer to click on my camera. He couldn't understand why I kept laughing - it was only a self-timed picture after all! The camera shutter opened and closed in a flash of an instant and I was hopping up and running to check if it passed my approval - in 3+ inch heels mind you.

At try #5 I nearly succumbed to the laughter. My mind was in years gone by. I could see my siblings and me crowded around my mom in our Easter best on the family sofa, waiting for my dad to set the camera timer. My mom, to my right cracking up at the little black lens we all stared into. Words can't describe what a hysterical sense of loneliness it is to stare at a tripod for a family photo. But that's how it was! We were all each other had. The lone wolf family of a very big extended family, we were on our own.

I sat there remembering that feeling so well. And now here I was, all grown up... staring into my own self-timed camera. Thinking of my mom and dad. Admiring their bravery in all those years raising us with no one around. So I chose to laugh happily, when I could have just as easily cried. Because life is good. Because God is good. Because my Savior is risen! Because as lonely as life can get from time to time, it is still a beautiful gift.

 Some iced coffees to assist in our meal prep! 

 My beautiful cousin (and her boyfriend!) were able to spend the holiday with us - such a blessing and joy to share the day together! 

 No self-timer needed this time! Thank you, Hope! 

How cute are they? :) F'real. Love you guys! 

Valentine's in the Rear View Mirror

I don't know about you, but we had a wonderful Valentine's Day. It was delightfully cliche - even down to waiting an hour for a table at our restaurant! (FYI, go to dinner before you see a movie, not after!) But it was okay because we were having fun just being together!

What is quickly becoming a Valentine's Day tradition (this was our second together as a married couple - where the heck does the time go?!) returned once again to my kitchen: Chocolate mousse. Oh. My. Gosh. You like chocolate? Coffee? Yeah, this mousse is for you. It's rich enough to make you sick, but it's worth it!

And a fun new tradition we have established! Chocolate covered strawberries. So delicious! Two ingredients! Strawberries + chocolate = awesomeness.

Somewhere in the middle of the day the doorbell rang and there was this handsome guy wearing aviators and a plaid button down leaning up against the doorpost holding these beautiful things. He asked me to be his Valentine... I of course couldn't resist! :)

Like my card-making skills right there?

Yeah... It was a little bit of a chocolate overload. We kind of went to sleep feeling sick... But it was so worth it!! I hope you had a day filled with love and sweet surprises!

PS: Go see "The Vow" - it's such a beautiful love story! (Yes, we saw "The Vow" on Valentine's Day. I warned you it was a cliche day!)


PSS: A big thank you to my precious parents who made our day so much more special with their thoughtfulness and packaged surprises! They're pretty much the best!

Sweet Valentine

Call it a Hallmark holiday, but I see it as a sweet opportunity to make life a little less routine for a day. Valentine's Day is the greatest excuse to be extra loving, extra adoring and of course, eat extra chocolate!  

Love is precious... why not celebrate it? Cherish your loved ones today and every day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Leather Jackets & Vintage Flair

My mom entered the room holding a weathered leather jacket and asked me if I thought Strom would like it. I raised my eyebrows and kind of chuckled as I pictured him actually saying yes and wearing it. "I can't imagine him wanting it, but I'd ask him anyway... He sometimes surprises me with how odd he is." I didn't think much of it and returned to reading my book. 

I looked up only moments later and in walked James Dean. (Okay, not really, but it made me do a double take when I saw Strom with the jacket on!) I just stared at him and laughed. Not a bad laugh, mind you! A laugh that was pleasantly surprised with what I saw before my eyes! He looked good in that old leather jacket! My mom and I giggled as we said he looked like The Fonz. 

"Oh! Oh! You so need to comb your hair to the side! Oh! And roll your pants up a little! Oh my gosh, do you have a clean white t-shirt?? Oh just grab your black dress shoes. No, it doesn't matter that they're black and not brown. This is way too much fun!" 

And would you believe, he actually did it. He actually combed his hair, put on a white t-shirt and tucked it in. For me. He cuffed his pants and walked into the room and put on the funniest show of 1950's-60's flair. 

It. Was. Awesome. 

All in all, the moment was over in 8 minutes, but oh the memory! And to my glory, he allowed my camera to enter the moment and I grabbed a few pictures. I do love that man.

And wouldn't you know, that old leather jacket is hanging in his closet now! ;)

Cars & More Cars

What do you do when you have 7 people on Christmas vacation and you have already been to the movies, played a dozen games and eaten a lifetime of food? You hit the museums of course! I lived in the Saratoga, NY area for over a decade and somehow managed to never know this place existed. Now that my family once again lives in the general location, we made an afternoon of it! 

Now, cars aren't my thing. I wasn't drooling like the men in my family were. I just know that I like pretty cars. And not those fancy do-dads people drive today. No, I like them old vintage babies. (I fell in love with the white Porsche below...I'm not sure it gets any prettier than that!). So, don't expect years, models, makes etc. All I know is that they're cars and that they're shiny. Oh, and that anything can be fun with a camera!

 My beautiful parents!

 Not a fan of Mr. Lindbergh (he stood with Hitler and all), but I still found it rather interesting that above was his actual car! The description stated that he used it to court his wife. Sweet.

 Being the one with the camera makes it difficult to ever be in a photo. We photogs go to amusing lengths!

 Presh.

 My vampire husband. (Right??)