Giving Thanks

I just want bare my thanksimony to everyone in our lives right now. We have been challenged and blessed equally (well, almost equally) in the past few months and there have been numerous people that have helped us out.

Thank you to those of you who have prayed for our sanity. The fact that we haven't fallen to pieces is proof that those prayers have been answered. There has been laughter and hope in our home which is just what we needed. Thanks Jeanne!

Thank you to Liz and Steve who have been there to support us emotionally, to boost up our spirits and give us comfort and lots of laughs.

Thank you so much to my parents who were right there offering their assistance in any scenerio that might arise. We really appreciate all you do for us.

Thank you to our many friends who have offered their help with all the little everyday things that make our lives easier bit by bit.

Thank you to my Savior who is watching over us all and is aware of our concerns, needs, and knows how big they appear to us now. He is willing to shoulder our tiny burdens that seem so overwhelming to us and help us focus on the bigger picture. What a great time of year we have to celebrate His coming to this earth and putting the Plan of Salvation into motion.

And finally, thank you to Emilie for starting a wonderful tradition in our family this Thanksgiving of making gingerbread houses!!! I have to show the 3 that are still at my house (was anyone else going to take one home?). They all turned out so cute!!!

Art and Astronomy

A month or so ago, I had a woman approach me who had seen a landscape I had painted for my mother-in-law's preschool classroom. She asked if I would be willing to paint a mural for her.

Sure, why not.

I haven't figured out how to splice my pictures yet to make one giant one, so go on this journey with me, if you will.

Obama side.
Center (although the color is really strange in this picture for some reason).

Limbaugh side.

Castle close up (do you like me dragon?)

Little Mermaid cameo

Fairy

Fairies
More fairies
Princess with unicorns

In case you couldn't tell, this is for a little girls play room.

If you were wondering about the horizontal line through the middle, she wanted it painted on paper (the big stuff on rolls) but that was too tall for the laminator so I had to put a fold down the middle so she can cut it, laminate it, and reattach it.

The whole thing is about 3' x 6' and was a blast to do. Those of you who are overly trained in art, please do not comment on my multiple light sources, I already know about those mistakes. I'm just happy at how my first painting came out.

On a completely different note, did anyone else see the meteor last night?

Steve woke me up just after midnight asking if I had seen the bright flash of light outside. Unfortunately I had gone to sleep only minutes earlier. He was so confused by what could have done it. He said it was so bright that it looked like midday outside for a second or two. I was too tired to wonder much about it right then, but this morning it was all over the news. I guess an oven sized meteor entered the atmosphere and put on quite the show.

Eve of All Hallows

Twas the eve of all hallows and the air was a humming,
for most little children knew what was forthcoming.

From early that morning when mom woke us up,
the hot, healthy breakfast said something was up

Instead of nice jeans and clean shirt (what a bother),
mom clothed us as fairies and young Harry Potter.

But it didn't end there, when we got to the school,
this dressing up strangely was apparently the rule

They marched us here and marched us there,
with every silly parent there just to stare.

When back in the classroom there arose such a murmur,
a hushed story of candy, it had to be rumor.

I sprang from my seat to get first in line,
and wouldn't you know it, the sugar was mine!

When school got out later, we still wanted more,
so we went to the place of my grandmother's store.

And there it continued, this carb counting nightmare,
with stores shoveling out chocolate to each mini frightmare.

By then the kids were getting sick of the walk,
and it was only mid afternoon, not yet 4 o'clock.

So back to the house, to hold back the herd,
of little mouths eating their weight in blue nerds.

No, we did not realize it was all just beginning,
that hoards of more candy was there for the winning.

All we had to do to complete this huge task,
was walk a few blocks (was that too much to ask?)

Now those of you who know my family too well,
will know that his walk would be a hard sell.

Half a block into this torturous assignment
was whining and complaining, without any enjoyment.

No matter the cost of the cold, windy night,
we plowed on to get our deserv-ed delights.

Snickers and Kit Kats, suckers and gum,
Starbursts and Gummy Bears, never more FUN!!

Now it is over and I'm glad it's through.
Good night to you all, I'm gonna go SPEW!!!