Just What the Dr. Ordered, Lots of Sunshine and Beaches!

Did I ever tell you how much of a kissy momma I am?

That is what my mom and I said as soon as we stepped foot onto the beach for our spring break vacation. We just returned home last night from the most beautiful place that I have ever been. We rented a condo on Santa Rosa Beach in the panhandle of Florida. Now we have been to many places in Florida but this stretch of beaches called Fort Walton Beaches spoiled us something rotten. It is called the Emerald Coast for a reason. We loved the gorgeous emerald colored water and white sugar sand beaches. I will post more later on about our travels, tons of pictures!!!! I took my family out to the sunset the last night that we were there and made them pose for a few (ok I shot until my battery died) pictures. Here are a few of my favorites. I have not had a chance to edit them, I can't wait to play with them .

I really realized how big my "little boy" has become on this trip. He was a bit of a chick magnet, kind of hard for a mom to think of him that way.

I loved just letting Myah play with the starfish. She became a fish on this vacation, living in the water, she loved the pool, the jellyfish were everywhere in the ocean so we opted to stay out of the water, although she went along collecting them on the beach.

Wouldn't you know it....everytime we are on vacation one of us ends up at the ER, this time is was my sweet hubby Mark, he was just carrying a piece of luggage to the car before we left and pulled his back out, really bad. Just what you want to do before you have to drive for 16 hours right?! I ended up taking him to the ER in Nashville for some good drugs to get him home. We went to his Dr. today and he is having an MRI on Thurs. , he thinks it might be a herniated disk, we will see, he is in more pain than I have ever seen him in, he can hardly walk, sit or stand. Please say a prayer for him.
We had the best vacation ever and we got to take my mom along with us, we had so much fun and our good friends came down too with 7 other couples, it was a week full of so many memories. I will have to share more later! I have a few messes on my hands!!! A house full of laundry and a hubby who needs me for everything. I love taking care of my families needs and I hope that I am giving him the comfort that he deserves. It is good to be home but I sure would go back in a heartbeat!

Introducing Lettered Threads!!!

We took these on Myah's sweet little bed!

Love these!!!!

I am thrilled to announce that my little sister Melanie has finally opened her own Etsy shop called Lettered Threads. She came down today and I took pictures of her awesome artwork and her gorgeous pillows. We had so much fun getting her site up and running today. Please stop by and say hello! Here are a few sneak peaks for you!!!

If I come up missing, look for me here....

The stool in the middle was the only one left, it was $15!

Cool printers letters for $1 a piece

I went to my nephew's basketball game the other night and I spotted this super cool antique store, my family was on a mission to get to the game so I decided to take it upon myself and go back the next day. I am so glad that I did!! I am especially glad that I did not have to worry about my hubby sitting in the car with my kiddos waiting for me, ever so patiently I am sure!

I had heard about this store from a lady who has a super cool booth at my favorite antique mall. I was not dissapointed at all! Two whole floors of vintage goods, I did my ususal walk through and then I walked through again, and again, trying to decided on what not to get! Her prices were SO good and fair. I saw a cool vintage suitcase for $7! Seriously! She says that she likes to change things up every 3 months that is why she keeps her prices so low. She likes to sell! Love that! I found a super cute little ditty for Myah's room, I will unveil those changes in a few days! I think that the Lamb's Gate Antiques in Grand Ledge has become my new favorite place to shop for vintagey/antiquey kinds of stuff! Here are a few images from her website, yes she has a nice website that you can go and shop yourself! Aren't you lucky?!!! Go Here to visit for yourself!

And just to prove she has just about everything, who doesn't need a rare cinnamon skunk??? With a name like that it almost makes me think skunks are cute.... ok who am I kidding!

My stamp of approval!

I have wanted one of these personalized address stamps for years. I am so sick of printing out little tiny address labels on my computer and then peeling and sticking them on my envelopes. No more of that for me!! I have finally ordered my very own stamp! I have always wanted to have things personalized or monogrammed but I never get around to it (actually, I am very indecisive when it comes down to it). However, the other day I was sitting in the allergist office waiting for Dayton to get his shot, I was enjoying my 25 mintues of peace and quiet while reading the House Beautiful magazine, I stumbled across a coupon for 40% any item here.
I clipped the coupon and went online to order, I found out that you don't need the coupon right now, they are giving you 40% off automatically as part of their Mother's Day promotion. These stamps are pricey, that is why I have never ordered one, they run about $53, but at 40% off they are more in my range. I figure I spend that much alone on paper and ink! Plus the stamp is self inking and is useful up to 10,000 times. I just had to pass this deal on to you, my buddies! I really wanted this one, but hubby and I compromised and .... we chose this one, I love the simple design. Isn't this fun?!! I love getting hand written notes, they are becoming more and more extinct now aren't they? I am going to try to write more after I get my new stamp, hmmm, sounds like a set of new stationary is in my future!

Please Pray For These Families!

I know that the bloggy community is full of praying people so I am asking you to take a moment to say a prayer for two families this week. The first family is a friend of mine through our adoptions. Diana and her family are currently in China adopting their second daughter, Sienna, she is 4 1/2 years old. After receiving vaccinations in China the other day Sienna has spiked very high fevers and has been ill. They have only had her for a week, I cannot imagine what this little girl is going through. Long story short, they have received an expedited Visa so that they may fly home to the US today, a week earlier than planned.That was an answer to prayers in itself. Please pray for Sienna's health and strength to take the 15 hour flight home and pray for Diana, Jeff and big sister Ainsley as they travel with her. Look at those gorgeous lashes!

Secondly, my heart goes out to the family of James B. Many of you know that I am married to a police Lt., my second family is the police community, they are a brotherhood like nothing I have seen before. I have been in this family for 20 years now and nothing is worse than being notified that another officer has died in the line of duty. Yesterday James was shot and killed in a nearby community, he was just 26 years old. We do not personally know James but he grew up in the community where my husband is a Lt. Mark was informed yesterday that he will share in the distinct honor of planning James' funeral. This is a huge undertaking, we know this because one of our friends and co-workers was killed in the line of duty 6 years ago and Mark was in charge of planning his arrangements as well. These funerals are huge, thousands of police officers come from all over to show their respect to the officer and their brother in blue. Please join us in praying for this family as they lay their son to rest and deal with this senseless tragedy.

This hits so close to home, my Mark was involved in a fatal shooting 5 years ago this past month. I will never forget the confusion of that day, the unknowns, the sadness, the fears and frustrations. Friends, family and clergy visited our home that day, it was such a blur. Watching the television and seeing the story plastered all over was difficult, but I was so thankful at the end of the day for the outcome. I almost lost Mark that day, believe me, I never take for granted that he is here with me. As difficult as it has been and always will be for Mark and I to live with the fact that he took another man's life, we know that the Lord was watching over him that day, he gave Mark the strength and confidence to do what he has trained to do and not become the victim himself. I know that James will always be a hero, his life was taken for a reason that we do not understand, but that is not for us to try to figure out, he is in God's hands. I ask that you pray for his family and for his co workers, it is going to be a very difficult time for them. Thank you !!!!

Proud Big Sister Moment

You must stop by Dreamy Whites today! She has done a feature about my little sister Melanie. I know if you follow my blog you have seen how talented she is in the past, I am so happy for her that she was featured by someone that she loves!!! Stop on by and say hello to her! P.S. This picture is in her family room, she put on a beautiful baby shower for her best friend Lisa, I told Mel I expect something this fabulous for my 40th this year!!! Don't you think that would be nice!!!??? Ha ha! Acutally, I have to say Mel has always done beautiful things for my birthdays!

A Few of my Favorite Things!

We interrupt the house tour to bring you the following messages: heee he

I have a few things that I am obsessed with lately and I just had to pass these good things on! This first item is something that I can wake up in the middle of the night, turn over and look at my clock and wish it was time to rise so that I can enjoy these!!!!!!!! Panera's Cinnamon Crunch Bagel with Honey Walnut reduced fat cream cheese spread. I am not kidding, they are like a dessert to me. I have given up eating so many of my favorite things this past year due to my stomach issues. This is sweet as candy for me!!! I litterally almost cried when I sent Dayton in the other evening to pick me up a few and he said that they were sold out!!! So warning, if you live in my area, please make sure you leave enough for me too!!!

I know this saying is everywhere right now but I went into my local Barnes and Noble and they are carrying a whole line of this and the pink cupcake version too. I purchased this little book for a special person in my life and I have been peaking through it until I deliver it to its new owner. I think I need to get one of my own! I love quotes and phrases and this book is filled with little ditties for many stages in ones life that might need a little pick me up. I LOVE it !!!
Here are a few of my favorites from the pages of the book. It was publised by Andrews McMeel Publishing and cost $8.99, a great little gift to keep on hand I think!!! Loving this one for obvious reasons!!
Isn't that the truth!

This reminds me of my sweet bloggy friends! Love both of these!!
Sounds so inspiring doesn't it!!!
I think this is my current state of mind!!!
My number one favorite!!!!!! I need to post this everywhere! I love this soap and rarely do I splurge on it for myself, it is so gentle on my sensitive skin! Lucky for me (and you) Marshall's has a small supply on hand for $6.99, a huge savings!!! I am stocking up when they get it in, I swear the people who live around here just don't like the things I do, this is such a great deal and yet there is always plenty there for weeks! Lucky me! My sister Melanie made these for me this week!!! She is so talented and has taught herself how to sew, she painted these with letters and numbers that had meaning to me!!! I put them on my hall tree and I love them so much!!!

I saved the best for last!!! My sweet little Myah can write!!! The other day she wrote my name without even asking me how to spell my name!! I will treasure this forever!!! Right now it has the distinct honor of gracing my fridge for all to see!!! Oh and I can't leave my Dayton out! Today he received his learners permit for driving! After completing his month long classes we went to the SOS today and got his permit!!! My life will never be the same, I swear that his driving is taking years off of my life!! Just kidding....well kinda!