Each night I ask Him to make up the difference in all the areas of my life that, despite my best most sincere efforts, I fall short. Tonight I wondered if I was doing the same for Him. You know...making up the difference. He is not here right now, but I am. I wonder...am I making a difference in all those places that He just can't be right now?

I know how much I need Him. Tonight I am reminded of how much He needs me.

is there a photographer in the house?

Thanks to my crazy talented SIL, I have some new 8x10s to hang up!

Thanks Toni for the photo shoot.

i gave her this

My Brynn is always so good at giving me all kinds of little notes. I have a stack that I have saved in a keepsake box. They usually go something like this:

Dear Mom,

I know I love you.

Love, Brynn.

So I decided to take a second and write her a quick note. It went like this:

Now I would like to say that, after opening my note to her, Brynn ran upstairs and placed it in a safe place where she could always look at it. However the truth is, she opened it, said "Thanks Mom!" and then jumped down from the kitchen table in some kind of hurry, tossing her card in her half eaten plate of syrup covered pancakes.

Not the warm and fuzzy moment I had hoped for, but she did say "Thanks," or was that a thanks for pouring her more orange juice? Oh, well. Either way, I'll take it.

give away winners

Thanks to all of you who left a comment on my little blog. I am feelin' the love and am more than thrilled that so many of you liked my pieces.

And the winners are:

danblackfam who said, "I also love them all. The first set of earrings are my fav. Do you sell these on line or something, you should."

whitney who said, "I love the first pair of earrings! They are beautiful."

heather who said, "Whatever...I'll take it all."

Congrats friends. I will be e-mailing you shortly.

ps: thanks dandee for the plug!

a little give...give...give away

Every girl needs a little accessory.

(Vintage glass beads on black earwire)

(Chrysanthemum on adjustable antique brass ring)

(1950s blue deco drop with lemony yellow glass bead on black earwire)

Leave a comment on this post. Say which one you like the most. I will choose a winner for each item. Winners will be announced Monday Oct. 27th.

(To all my family far, far away...leave a comment, if you win I will send it to you!)

dear tooth fairy

up on an airplane

The little Cs and I just got back from a much needed trip to Texas. We played with cousins, we pumpkin patched, we braved the heat for a Texas State Fair experience, and we (I mean "I") swooned over Michael Buble yet again (I know...it's a sickness...really it is.)

For me, there's nothing quite like going home. For Cole, there's nothing quite like riding in an airplane for the very first time.

He cried when it was time to deboard the plane.

PS: love to all my Texas family. i miss you already.

Tagged by my friend natural joy.

8 things I am passionate about:

1. being a good mother

2. beads

3. Heroes

4. reading the Ensign

5. good lyrics

6. my husband's grilled Salmon

7. books

8. trying to be Christ-like

8 phrases I say often:

1. "Oh my land!"

2. "Hey ______. I love you."

3. "Sucka"

4. "1...2...3..." (mostly to Cole)

5. "I'm soooooo tired."

6. "Do you have to go potty?" (also to Cole)

7. "Light a fire!" (mostly to Brock)

8. "Shut it." (mostly to Rob)

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. go to Europe

2. learn to play the cello

3. learn to play the guitar

4. cook a Thanksgiving turkey

5. be able to sew something without any help

6. watch Rob tear it up on the dance floor

7. hold my very own grandbaby

8. make my own money in the stock market

8 places I want to go before I die:

1. Boston

2. Greece

3. Australia

4. the Sacred Grove

5. the Louvre Museum

6. Fiji

7. Paradise Island, Bahamas

8. Ireland

8 things I have learned from my past:

1. I am far from perfect.

2. Change is good.

3. I am not alone.

4. Sometimes the popular thing isn't always the right thing.

5. My Mom and Dad knew what they were talking about.

6. If you have naturally curly hair...make peace with it.

7. You never know what is really going on in other people's lives.

8. My husband loves me.

8 things I currently need or want:

1. Stacy and Clinton (WNTW)

2. a maid

3. a Chilis on Rd. 68

4. a night of uninterrupted sleep

5. a good poetry book

6. exercise

7. Texas!

8. a cranberry limeade

oh my...those cheeks

He drools a lot. He smiles a lot. He eats a lot. Consequently, he weighs a lot.

Cody Paul or (Code-Bode as Cole calls him) 3 months old.

i heart my job

Brock has been working so hard on his reading lately. His math/science brain doesn't naturally steer towards the nearest book for a good read. In an effort to encourage him, we both have been reading a series together. He is on book three of Del Torra Quest. I am on book two.

B.rock says, "Mom...it's getting good!"

I say, "SHHH...don't tell me! I'm not there yet!"

He has no idea how much I am loving doing this with him!