The Story Of Us

It's simple, it's sweet, it's the story of us. I started to date that cutie in 7th grade ;-) yep, you heard me. We had our many ups and downs, and moments we thought we were better off not together, however our hearts knew better and we always ended up back where we belonged. Funny how life gives you someone you don't really deserve and someone who keeps you grounded and makes you a better person yet, there are moments when you become blind to all the good and dwell on the little bit of not so perfect moments with the one you love. Our marriage is not a fairytale everyday, life throws so much at you and it's hard to always stay focused on the important things and it's hard to find the time to work on your marriage when there seems like so many other things going on around you.  I remind myself often that a good marriage is based on those who are continually finding ways to improve their marriage not just going through the motions and hoping it stays afloat along the way. Cheers to those working hard on their marriage and those in search of their own fairytale!!

Landon

So I shot this sweet litte fella a few months ago and wanted to share his shoot. He was such a ham for how cold it was out. I had my daughter on this shoot to help me out. The grandparents had me shoot their grandson and their granddog and I have to say even Oti the bulldog did great!!!

jshank11's photostream

jshank11's photostream on Flickr.

I Close My Eyes and I Pray

I pray for guidance, I pray for strength...I pray for so many things in this crazy world we live in. As the Holiday's approach and money's tight and I'm struggling to find another job it's so comforting to be able to just close my eyes and pray. I pray for forgiveness for even thinking I don't have all the things that my family needs, because I know it's not the case. I pray for the future as it just feels so uncertain to me. I pray I can always be that good example my kids need me to be. I pray for health as so many don't even have that. To all those who are feeling the burden of the economy and the burden of the false information our lovely government continues to throw at us, close your eyes and pray and know you are not alone.

Av's Luvs

It's Monday, oh so Monday and I'm at a loss for words (I know that is funny :-)~ but it does happen sometimes) so little Miss Avery Mckenna is going to share some of  her favorite things:

pintrest, dogs, family, friends, Christmas(holidays), pumpkin pie, pictures, water slides, mint chocolate chip ice cream, gummy worms, water, zebra's, reading, listening to music, dancing, smores, watching the dolphin "Winter" on it's web cam, birthday parties, fishing, roller skating, shopping with my Mom at Justice, playing in pine forest with my brother, riding my four wheeler, watching every episode of Good Luck Charlie, my old cowgirl boots, eating at Cheesecake Factory, looking at car magazines...

Gotta love this list I especially love the order of her loves pintrest before family, thanks kiddo!!

Water Water Everywhere, Everywhere but here...

About 1 billion people throughout the world don’t have access to clean water, and 2.5 billion don’t have access to a toilet. The mission of Water.org, co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, is to provide communities in developing countries with clean drinking water and sanitation services. Help by participating in its fundraising or education projects, or simply donate. According to the organization, just $25 can bring one person safe drinking water for the rest of his life.


Really???? $25 dollars for safe water to drink for the rest of someones life...ok, I think we can all dig deep in our wallets and wrangle up 25 dollars. Oh my, what a feeling to know that for such a small price someone can have something we take for granted for the rest of their life. I'm in, this is my mission and I will make it my passion so bare with me if I repeat myself but what a wonderful cause what a wonderful way to give back. I know our economy's is bad, believe me I get it but don't forget about those that don't have the simplest of things that we have available to us daily and give to those in need.

Not ready to say goodbye....

I guess we sort of knew it was time, time to put our gentle giant to rest but it didn't make it any easier. Babar was our English Mastiff and a beautiful boy. I never wanted such a big dog however, my husband really did and it was at a time in my husband's life when life when I knew it would take his focus off some of the bad things in his life he was going through so needless to say I gave in. I'm glad I did, we packed up our daughter Avery and Mother-in-law and drove up north of Columbus to Wooster (Amish country) and got our baby boy. We instantly feel in love. We brought this boy home to a new world a world with sounds and lights and a little girl who just wanted to lay on top of him and God love him he didn't care one bit. Our spoiled Jack Russel's were not to found of this newcomer but eventually fell in love also and never wanted to be apart from him I think the male Jack actually thought the English Mastiff was his Momma.

Long story, short he is eight and a half now and we all knew the life span wasn't much past that however, it just felt like that didn't apply to us and we tried to ignore the fact that he was getting old and had different things going on with his body until this last weekend when we realized it was time, he was exhausted and started not getting up much.

So, my  morning began like that on the movie Spanglish, I just couldn't bare for my feet to touch the floor because in my heart I knew what that meant, it meant once my feet hit the floor it was the day that when I returned home from work this dog who stole my heart would be in the ground, not looking at me, not barking at me, not happy to see me, in the ground so I put off as long as I could until I had no choice. I had kids to feed and get ready for school and if not for that my day would never had started.

 It is something that takes your breath away knowing that this creature whose only purpose was to be loved...that's it....that's all he ever asked for and it didn't matter what kind of day you had or if you didn't pet him the night before it didn't matter there are no grudges, he loved anyway and loved well.

Godspeed Babar...Godspeed sweet boy!

Daily Regrets

Do you have daily regrets?
Let me see what mine were today...
Not walking today, I played the "it's to cold and rainy game"
Not making my kids a nice breakfast, I did the quick morning star soy sausage
Not taking a umbrella to the flea market...ugh
Not taking cash to the flea market :-)
Not kissing my little man before I left for the day
Not taking a picture of my daughter on Santa's lap
Not making my weekly jug of mint tea yet
Not painting my toe nails
Not packing the kids lunch yet
Not logging into pinterest at all today
Not blogging yesterday because it truly is my new found love

Have a great Sunday evening everyone!
I must run along so that I don't have more regrets tomorrow