I just got back from one of the best weekends of recent memory!  We went to Buffalo NY, partly on business, partly on pleasure.  We saw a Great Lake, Niagara falls, and hundreds of houses built in the 1800s.  I was so relaxed it must have been the closest thing possible to drugs!!!  Dan and I had no one to entertain but ourselves.  Wow I never realized just how HUGE that is. We had SUCH a good time, and I didn't realize just how bad I needed a break.  We had not a day but a WEEKEND to ourselves.  WOW.  I'm totally refreshed!!  I absolutely LOVED this trip. I love it up north.  This side of New York, the people are actually friendly.  :-)

One of these pictures shows me contemplating a trip into Canada, stamping my passport for the first time ever.  I've never really wanted to travel abroad.  I got a lump in my throat and nearly started crying when I thought about leaving the USA.  Not sure why but I know I am blessed to live here.  So, I just stayed on my side of the border.  I'll get a stamp another day.

I LOVED Niagara Falls, and not just the falls but the entire park.  I just kept imagining myself on an innertube drifting along....then BOOM DOWN I GO!  I loved the surrounding areas too.  All the houses were old.   I picked out 100 that I liked.  I would love to renovate an old house but I don't have time right now.  

Maybe another decade.

It's been a little while and I've never been busier.  Some time ago I got this idea that I wanted to do a craft show.  I want to "repurpose" little children's outfits.  So I gather gently used clothing items, and monogram them for their new home.  I sell the clothes cheaper than new clothes, and comparable or very slightly higher than consignment prices, and the monograms are free.  I make a few bucks per outfit, parents save money, and have great clothes.  Well about a month ago I thought I should quit dreaming about this one-day-craft-show and actually DO IT.  So I have applied for one, and it's not juried so I'm hoping I'll make it in.  Announcement later.  In the meantime, I decided I'd test the waters by dabbling in online sales, so I opened a free facebook page about a month ago.  I haven't rested since.  WHOAH!  www.facebook.com/impressedclothing if you dare to look.  So this is the reason for my lack of blogging.  Well this and the rest of "life" that is happening daily.

This past week was VBS in Shelby.  We went to the closing festivities Friday night and the leader called Daniley up to the front to pray.  He said he had been touched by her prayer earlier in the week.  So I'm absolutely sweating bullets as he hands a microphone to my 4 year old who is famous for saying all kinds of random (often hilarious but true) things.  Yes, the same 4 year old who told me going in to church the other day that "My daddy has a penis."  (Please send Thank You cards to the grandparents for the new terminology.)  So anyway, she stands there for a second, but she's not shy, so I KNOW she is going to say SOMETHING.....and then it comes out:  "Lord, thank you for everything you have given us.  Please forgive us for the things we do wrong.  Help us to grow into what you have for us.  Amen."  And I couldn't have said that any better myself.  I have never been more proud.

While we were there Danslen took the stage.  She didn't even go to VBS, hates going to church, and always says "I want go home."  She is not overly adventurous unless it involves getting into something.  So I was FLOORED when she hopped up on the stage and started dancing.  She had the cutest look on her face the whole time.  I suspect the whole church was smiling at her because you just couldn't help but notice her cuteness!!! 

Happy Independence Day

This weekend was Liberty Day, our favorite summer holiday.  It's always a busy day and this year was no exception.  At the parade, Danslen walked down the street like she owned it!  She had a bubble gun and I'll admit she pointed her gun at every person possible.  I'm not sure if she has ever had a toy she loved more.  The girls had crazy fun at the fireworks.  My brother was sitting in his chair and it all-of-a-sudden collapsed.  He hit the ground.  So hilaroius! I love hanging out with my sis and bro!! They are hilarious.  They love my kids like their own.  My, how life has changed for us!!

One snap, and we all were looking.  Never before.  Never again.

Happy Independence Day!!