2009 Dance Recital

Tap Solo Outfit


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Group Tap Outfit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Group Ballet Outfit

My Step-daughter, Emily had her Dance Recital today. She performed in a Group Ballet and Group Tap Production and did her Solo in Tap. This is her 2nd year for a Solo. I have uploaded her Solo video for you all to enjoy! She did a fabulous job again this year!!

When it Rains it Pours~~

Wow! When it rains it pours! As you know, my son had an appendectomy on Nov. 6th. He was home for a week and was still having pain and was uncomfortable. On November 19th, he started running a high fever and not feeling well at all. His Dad took him to the ER where they did a CT Scan and found an absess. He had to have a drain tube put in Thursday morning to drain all the infection out. He had a really rough time with this, poor guy. He has really been through alot in November. After his procedure, while in the recovery room, he spiked a temp of 106 and they worked for about 1 hour to get his temp down. They almost kept him in ICU overnight but was able to get his temp down and stablized. He was given 3 strong antibiotics by IV plus Morphine for pain for a whole week. He was released on Thanksgiving morning! Thank God! That evening he came to my sister's house for Thanksgiving Dinner and his Birthday Party! He turned 14 years old the next day at 6:56pm. WOW! What a Birthday, huh! He is doing really good now and is back in school; and I am back to work and the normal busy life. LOL Run, Run, Run!!! LOL

Oh, and YES, I did do the Black Friday Shopping thing--lol--with my sister! I stayed with her on Thanksgiving night and we got up at 3:00am and to the stores by 3:50am. What a mess! lol I don't know why we subject ourselves to these things! Bargins? Well, I didn't find too many. By the time I got to where I wanted, they were sold out. Figures! LOL Think I would have done better online or just waiting and paying a few more dollars. However, my sister and I did have some "bonding time". :) Love ya sister!

The Holidays are Here Again

Another year has almost come to an end. Wow, how time does fly. So much has happened this year; both good and bad. I haven't posted in quite a while. Sorry! Time slips by so quickly when you are busy. It seems as though there is never enough time in a day to get everything done.

My son, Joshua just had an appendectomy on November 6th. I was with him from Nov. 5th through Nov. 9th. He is such an amazing young man. His birthday is next week--November 28th! He will be 14 years old! WOW!! I can't hardly believe it! He has grown up so much and is so mature. I am very proud of him.

We will be going to my sister's house for Thanksgiving Dinner / Birthday Parties. My youngest sister's birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year and my son the day after. So, alot to celebrate and be thankful for!! :)

Well, I haven't decided if I am going to fight the crowds on Black Friday or not! I love to shop, especially for bargins, but sometimes that day is just too much! LOL My husband and son are going to the WVU - PITT Football Game at Hines Field that day for Joshua's Birthday! He, well they both, are so excited! WVU FANS OF COURSE!! GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!

Well, hopefully, I can get back to posting regularly again! Keep checking back! Don't give up on me yet! LOL

Have a Great Holiday with your Family and Friends!!

My son, Joshua

Well, I made it through my carpal tunnel surgery just fine. I just had the brace taken off and the stitches out on Monday. It is healing up well. It is still sore and a little stiff but doing so much better now...at least I can sleep without it hurting and going numb. I will now be able to start blogging regularly again---without pain!! Yeah! :) I hope you all are enjoying your summer. It is hard to believe it is almost over. Soon it will be time for all the wonderful Fall Craft Shows!! I love that time of year! I am now back to making my raggedies and other crafts. I have a big show Labor Day Weekend in Jane Lew, WV---Jane Lew Firemen's Festival. If any of you will be near there please stop by and see me! If you mention my blog you will receive a free gift! I will be in a blue/gray tent in front of the fire department. When you are finished shopping there, head on over to the Stonewall Jackson Jubilee just a few minutes away! A weekend full of fun for the whole family!

I know I haven't posted anything for a while. I have been working alot more lately plus getting new items ready for shows. I just received a full-time position at my job and I will be closer to home now. I am really excited about this opportunity. I also will be having carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand Tues., July 8th; so, I won't be posting much in July. I hope you all have a fun and safe Independence Day! We always go to my Dad's house in WV and have a big cookout and play games and then set off fireworks that night! We have loads of fun!! I can't wait!

Happy 4th!!

Graduation 2008

My daughter, Whitney, just graduated from High School on Friday. I wasn't ready for this to happen yet! LOL I still want her to be a little girl. She has grown up so fast and so beautifully. I am very proud of her achievements. She graduated 56th out of her class of 164. She has participated in several debates and was selected to go to Northwestern University in 2005 for the Junior Statesman of America College Program. She graduated the program with honors and college credits! She will be attending Washington & Jefferson College to study Pre-Law/Government. Who knows...she may be our President one day! :) I love you Whitney Breanna! I will always be here for you!

Memorial Day Weekend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Memorial Day is a time when we all remember all of our loved ones who have passed on and also we remember the ones who have gave and are giving their lives for our freedom!! Thank You!

This memorial weekend was quite a busy time for my family! Every year at this time, my step-daughter, Emily, performs in her Dance Recital. So, we had dress rehearsal on Saturday and then the Recital on Sunday. The kids work really hard all year to put on this fabulous performance! All of them did a great job!! This year was Emily's first time to do a Solo! She tapped to "Rockin' Robin"! She did an excellent job! She also received a Perfect Attendance Medal! Below are pictures of her in her Group Tap Outfit (green), her Ballet Performance, her with her medal and her solo picture. I have also included a video of her first tap solo!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, we took a trip to Pittsburgh Zoo with my sister and her family. Very Hot Day, but enjoyable! So, now we are all home relaxing; getting ready for another work/school week! Whew!

Sorry I haven't posted anything for awhile. I have been working alot, both at my job and getting ready for a craft show on May 17th. I will be posting some pics soon of some of my newest creations.

I will be leaving tomorrow evening to go to West Virginia for the weekend. I will be spending time with my family for Mother's Day! I am really excited. I love being with my family.

I hope all you Mother's have a wonderful weekend! Relax and enjoy being a Mom!

My 5th Wedding Anniversary

I am so blessed to be married to the most wonderful husband in the world. We celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary yesterday, April 26th. We had such an enjoyable time together. With work and daily activities it is sometimes hard to squeeze in time together. So, when we do have time, it makes it that much more special. We went to Pittsburgh for the day. We had a late lunch at Red Lobster and then went to Robinson Towne Center Mall for a while~~he's so sweet to go and let me shop! ;) We went in Macy's and I was even invited to receive a free makeover; in which I gladly accepted. It was so much fun! We then went downtown Pittsburgh to Station Square. They have a little of everything there--Shoppes, Restaurants, Clubs...etc. We shopped a little while, played a few games, got our pictures taken in one of those photo booths :) and then we went to the Funny Bones Comedy Club. Very Fun!! Wouldn't you know it, we were singled out in the middle of the show and asked what we were celebrating tonight and we said our 5th Anniversary and then the comedian proceded to ask my husband, Matt "I know you love your wife, tell me one reason why you love her?" He replies, "Because she puts up with my crap!" LOL Then, he says to me, "And why do you love Matt?" (guys, I went blank--lol--I hate being put on the spot) I blanked for a moment and someone in the crowd says "because his crap don't stink". I laughed. The comedian then said "no, really why do you love him?" I paused and said "because he is really good to me." The comedian repeated what I said and then went on to say some other things about love and relationships that was so hysterical! I was as red as a cooked lobster! Anyway, we had a blast!! Very relaxing and enjoyable for both of us!

Happy Anniversary Honey, I love you so much!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been busy with so many things.

I was blessed to have some time with my daughter this weekend! We had a good visit. She is almost done with school and then off to college she goes. Time sure does fly by. One minute they are your babies and the next minute they are adults just like you. Kinda scary isn't it? LOL I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Saturday was beautiful here and then today was chilly and rainy. It is supposed to start warming up again in the middle of the week. My daughter and I noticed the trees are blooming everywhere to welcome in the season. Isn't it a wonderful feeling....Spring is here!!

Have a fabulous week!

My Birthday!

Today is my 36th Birthday! My husband is taking me out this evening for dinner. He also bought me a pair of Aquamarine earrings and a very sweet card! He had to work today, so he left them for me to find when I woke up this morning. He is soooo sweet! My step-daughter bought me a very cute card and a TY Pluffies Giraffe named TipTop! I love giraffes! This one is soooo cute! We go to my sisters for Easter on Sunday! My Mom, both Sisters and their husbands, my Dad, my Daughter and Son and my little Niece will all be there! YEAH! I am really excited to spend some time with them! They live in WV and I don't get to see them too often. Another year older and another year blessed! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aren't you glad we have someone in our life that will take over when you think "Okay Lord, What else can go wrong"? I am!! Sometimes we think we have to take care of everything ourselves and we get in over our heads and end up flat on our rear. This weekend was one of those! It has been a crazy few days. Saturday I had to take my step-daughter to dance class and then we stopped at the store and went home. When we got home, we noticed our neighbor's Black Lab was loose and running toward us at our garage. We quickly ran back in the garage and shut the door for fear of him jumping on us. He had already attacked a little neighbor boy the day before. I never thought this dog would do anything like that. One of the neighbors saw our trouble and came out to chase the dog away so we could get in our house. When I got in, my two dogs were waiting eagerly for us to arrive so we could take them outside. Just as I started to take them out, the Lab came charging at us on my porch. I quickly grabbed them and got back in the house. Then I thought, I have to do something about this. The owners were not at home and didn't know when they would return. I needed to get outside with my pets, so I took a leash and went out by myself to try and gain trust with the Lab. He has never acted out toward me before and I would always talk with him, so I wanted to get close to him to get the leash on him and put him in his cage. My step-daughter came out to see if I was okay and to bring me some treats to lure him. When she was standing there with me, he came right past me and attacked her. He tore her jeans and put a bruise on her leg and bit her side without tearing her clothing. I distracted the dog so she could get in the house. I then ran in the house to see how bad it was. Needless to say, I called 911 and had them to send an Ambulance and Animal Control. It wasn't real bad, but I did not know if this dog had all his shots or not. I thought the best thing to do was have them get her cleaned up and checked out. We ended up at the ER for 5 hours. They cleansed the wound and gave her a tetnus shot and an antibiotic. We have to keep ointment on the wound and change the dressing everyday. She is okay, but she now is leary of going outside without first looking around. Thank You God for Protecting Her!!

On this same day, my little niece Hannah, was in her first Pageant and she WON!!! YEAH!! She is pictured below! How sweet is she! She is 2 1/2.

And through it all I have had a really bad cold that I cannot seem to get rid of. " When it rains it pours"~~ rings true more times than not. However, we are not alone in all of our troubled times!! Thank you God for being here and helping us!!

My Babies :)

My daughter, Whitney

My son, Joshua

I love you! I am always here for you!

My brother-in-law John & my youngest sister, Tisha

As you all may know, my sister lost her first baby. She is scheduled for a DNC tomorrow morning. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers, as this is a very difficult time for everyone!

My sister just found out yesterday that she did lose her baby. This is a very hard time for all of us. Please continue to pray for her.

I'll Never Know

By LisaMarie Emerle

How do I say goodbye ... when I didn't get to say hello? I want so bad to keep you ... how do I let you go? I have so many dreams, so much love I want to share

There's nothing I can do ...why is life unfair? You're my perfect angel...I dreamed you long ago

I never got to hold you but it breaks my heart to let you go

The pain and confusion I feel inside I can not explain...I can not describe

God will rock you in your cradle and watch you as you sleep

I will love you in my heart ... it's all I get to keep

You are blessed my child ... you're in heaven up above

You'll never be alone...you have Mommy & Daddy's love

Hush my little baby...you need not ever cry

You were always wanted! I wish you didn't die

You'll be my sunshine in the daylight and the brightest star at night

Reach for God's hand and go to the light

I would rather endure the pain of losing you right now

Then the thought of you suffering thru life...we'll get thru somehow

I was blessed to have you briefly...even though I have to let you go

I wish I knew the reason but I guess I'll never know.

Impossible Situations Can Become Possible Miracles

Well, I am back from visiting my family in WV! I had a nice visit! I went with my sister to her appointment and we received some disturbing news. The doctor she saw was very cold and rude and told her that she wasn't hearing the baby's heartbeat and that her baby didn't make it and that they would need to do a DNC! My sister didn't know anything was wrong and hasn't been having any symptoms of a miscarriage or anything. She is so upset. My other sister called and scheduled an appt. with her OB/GYN so she could have a second opinion! So, needless to say, I stayed with her for a few days to give her support. She has an appointment with this doctor on Thursday morning, Feb. 14th. If you will, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that everything is alright!

Sometimes we go through things that are difficult so we can become stronger and help other people! I have been in many tough situations and even though it hurts at the time, God always sees us through and gives us a new hope!

Today's Inspirations:

"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry."

Psalm 10:17 NIV

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Have you ever just been tired and didn't want to do anything at all? Well, today I am just tired....and....lazy! :) I have been working really hard to try and get all my new products finished before my next show in March!! Plus, working my part-time job and then coming home and doing things that "we wives/moms" have to do!! LOL :) It seems like it doesn't stop some days! I NEED A VACATION FOR ABOUT A WEEK~~NO PHONE~~NO CHORES~~NO BILLS~~NO RESPONSIBILITY!!! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just ignore everything whenever we wanted to? But~we can't, so we do the best we can do until we are able to have that time!! So, today, I will just trust God for a peaceful evening and a peaceful night's sleep!

Tomorrow is a new day~~a fun day for me!! I get to go see my family in WV for a couple days!! My youngest sister is expecting her first baby in September and has her first sonogram on Friday and wanted me to go with her! I am so excited to finally get to be an Aunt! I can't hardly wait for the baby to get here for me to spoil and love! If you would, please keep her in your prayers for a healthy pregnancy!

Inspiration for those of us who are weary today:

" '...The JOY of the Lord is your Strength.' "

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

Welcome

Hello and Welcome to my little corner of the world. I hope to bring you lots of fun and inspiring thoughts to brighten your day! We all need that from time to time! :)

I think you will agree when I say, that our families and friends are an important part of our lives! Sure, we have our ups and downs with them at times, but we always love them no matter what! Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were the only one alive? What would you do? Do you think you could actually survive without companionship of some kind? Well, I personally wouldn't like being alone! I love being with my family and friends! They make up a part of who I am! I don't know what I would do without them! They have helped me in so many ways and I want to Thank each one from the bottom of my heart for helping me become "Me"! So many times we just go about each day and never stop to think about the ones who helped us along the way! ~Guilty!!~ I think it is important for us to realize the value of our family and friends! Let's take time to tell them how much we appreciate them~it will make a difference in all of us!