In Flight

Happy to be visiting my friend! Click here to see me at Jen's.

Today's Recipes

One Year Away

Because Hope is Worth it

You've gotta do this.
Seriously. If you've ever sewn a stitch in your life, please do this.
Scroll to Project 4 and read. Then, start to work on a sock monkey for these tiniest of burn victims, right here in the U.S. of A.

Because HOPE really is worth it, and being a part of the awesomeness that is Craft Hope is just completely amazing and bigger than yourself.

Ms. Jade Sims, Craft Hope creator and Queen, as I call her, has become my friend this year. She is about to have a sweet baby, all in the midst of finishing up her book details (way to go, Barnes & Noble, for publishing a Craft Hope book).

I had to send her some baby goodies to match her nursery:

And make a coordinating card, too. This one followed a sketch from Triple the Sketch.

Blessings to you, Craft Hope Queen, to your sweet baby, and to all you girls out there getting your craft on for this great organization!

Chocolate Cupcakes, Superfriends, 36"

Made those chocolate cupcakes to cheer up Emilia. (looks like Lilly was also uplifted)
Delivered them, along with the drawing of Gus in heaven with Jesus. Which led to this.


Funny thing is, these two ran in and suited up without mamas knowing. Hilarious when they burst out into the backyard in these get-ups.

Of course, Lilly is not easily outdone.

TigerLilly: "RRRAAAAAHHHH!!!"

We had a beautiful time at Silver Dollar City today. Loving 80 degree weather in August.
Like it that brother was showing sissy how to press the button to make the butterfly fly.

And want to remember (or forget, really) these signs:

For a 34"ish sized little gal, the summer of 36" rides has been tough. We dealt with it at the fair, and now Silver Dollar City. She waits in line, and, sometimes, an operator will look the other way, but other times, a tearful, very unhappy Lilly has to walk away, rideless. And no amount of "naaacks" can suffice.

But, isn't she beautiful?

And isn't he handsome?

Want to help yourself feel happier?
Start a blog.
Post all your happy photos and write about them.
And maybe, just MAYBE, all the bad stuff of the day that you did and said and felt and wallowed in will slink into the background of your thoughts, and you'll realize: I have a pretty stinkin' great life.
In that moment, there is happiness.

All Dogs go to Heaven

Jesus and Gus.
Doesn't get any sweeter than this . . . a picture Ian made today for his precious most awesome friend ever/neighbor Emilia. Gus went to doggy heaven today, and Ian wanted to make her feel better. My fave part? You guessed it--Jesus, all Ian's idea to add Him. We'll deliver the drawing tomorrow, with some homemade cupcakes -- chocolate with chocolate frosting, and sprinkles--LOTS, of course! Hopefully, Miss Emilia will smile.

Woe is me. No camera tonight at the Cards ballgame. It was Star Wars night and Ian went dressed as "Orange Luke," blue light saber at the hip.
He dueled with several boys who also had light sabers.
He white-knuckle gripped daddy's hand when a sandperson passed by.
He battled with mascot Louie.
And on the way out, he defeated Darth Vader who was guarding the exit. It was a light saber duel to go down in history [orrrr, the bottom of the fourth].

Photoshop Brushes, etc.

or, the extended title: Photoshop brushes/Keeping my Sanity/Bragging Rights/Things I Love/Mama Memories/Ian's Alphabet

1. Photoshop brushes
Wish I played more with brushes. Here, I played a little with some pictures from yesterday.


2. Keeping my Sanity
To my book club ladies:
Tonight.
So fun. So good to laugh. So not snooty. So much a favorite thing I do each month.
We should be a panel on Crossfire, what with all of our extremely different political views. But instead, we're a group of ladies who love and respect one another and appreciate our differences. Carol: thank you for putting such a wonderful group of ladies, now friends, together almost two (has it been 2 yet?) years ago.

3. Bragging rights
Check out this site Nathan designed and developed. Incredible!!! Went live tonight.

4. and 5. Things I love/Mama Memories:

• Coming home to a sweet honey who has the children in bed. Asleep.
• Going in to kiss my sweet Ian on the cheek. Love that last little sugar of the night. Such a warm, sweet cheek, your precious mind at rest for the day.
• Lilly waking up after a couple hours asleep, and, even though she loves her daddy so dearly, it's ME she wants. All mama. And when I come in to hold her, she is instantly comforted, and we sit in the dark and rock in the glider. As a bonus, she pats mama on the shoulder as she softly says, "Need drink (dink)." It's almost as if she knows I need this as much as she does.
• I say to myself, "Rebekah, remember this."

6. Ian's alphabet
For some reason, little 'a' often wants to go the direction of little 'n' in Ian's name. So, now, scandalously, little 'a' tries to kiss big 'I' every time Ian writes his name. So of course, she goes toward 'I' instead of away from it. Seems to be working.


Since the local school system uses D'Nealian handwriting, I was excited to find this site. For my in town friends, check it out if you have a child about to start kindergarten. Click on "First Alphabet" on the left side and it provides D'Nealian worksheets and letter practice ideas.

Speaking of, parents of preschoolers, check out this article. Let's make sure our kids still play, okay?

Working on an annual freelance editing project right now--takes up lots of my fun time. It will be over soon and I will start feeding Yeebird again, daily.

Happy day, everyone.