Showering Kelsi with Love

It was time for us girls to Shower Cute Kelsi with Lots of Love!  Tonya told me that her and her girls would have the shower but instead of letting them do it all we agreed that they could help.  I don't mind having it at my house since everyone knows where we live and by having it here no one else needs to stress about cleaning for it.  

I had gone to a shower a few weeks ago and the table was set up so cute I asked if I could borrow the material.  Better than just borrowing the material my friend Tammy T. came and helped me set it up.  I think it looked great. 

My girls helped a lot.  I love having older kids...it sure makes things like this so much easier!  Natalie made the invites and had lots of horns, and glittered some sticks that made it look really cute.  Trichelle had a cute glittery deer plague and some shiny white horns she hung pearls from and gold book ends we used to accent the food table!  All the girls (mine & Tonya's) helped with the food.  I think it turned out pretty wonderful.  I sure do appreciate my girls and Tonya and her girls. 

I also really appreciate everyone that was able to make it to the shower.  I know Saturdays are busy and we all have so much going on.  I felt loved and loved introducing Kelsi to my great friends that are like family to me.  Most have been my friends for most of my life.  Each have loved and supported me and my family!  I love them all!  Larry & I have great families who are always there for us too!

 It was fun showering Kelsi with gifts.  She got a variety of things that will help her and Braxton start their life together.  Kelsi and Braxton are going to start their married life by living in the cute little white house at the corner...I'm excited to have them so close.  These two are so cute together!

 I always love including the kids in our celebrations.  My grands quickly made themselves comfortable in the living room.  They carried out the doll house and a bunch of dolls and had fun together.  I love watching them enjoy each other.  They were cute watching Kelsi open her gifts.  They were close to her being excited for her as she opened each gift....they all love Kelsi!

 We all love Kelsi.  She is such a good girl.  She loves Braxton and I think they will both enjoy spoiling each other.  I'm so happy to have Kelsi join our family and claim her as mine! ♥

My Ride for a Few Days

A month ago I got rear ended and it's finally time for my car to be fixed.  While it was in the shop I got to drive this nice Chrysler 200.  It was awesome!

I just want to say that working with Farmers Insurance was my pleasure.  The agents were so nice to me.  I had our friend, Dennis Kendrick bid my car and take pictures for the insurance company.  He did such a good job that the insurance company didn't send anyone to come and look at my car. They said that they could tell what needed fixed by the photo's.

I got a call from Steve, the agent handling my case, when I landed in Baltimore.  He called me "Dawn Marie" when he spoke to me and told me that it never happens.... for the insurance company to  bid higher than the shop fixing it but it happened and Farmers would just send me the check for their bid which was a couple hundred dollars higher than Dennis's bid.  The check actually beat me home.

Dennis actually ended up fixing my car quicker than he expected and so charged us less than his original bid. So....that little inconvenience was well worth it.  I got to drive a nice car around for a few days and came out money ahead.  I also liked hearing "Dawn Marie" again and so I added Marie to my name on Face Book.

WooHoo Lorell!

Lorell is 100 today!  I bet she would have never dreamed such a day.  In fact I asked her in Church if she ever thought she'd be celebrating her 100th birthday and she just laughed.  I think it's great that her family celebrates her birthday every year with the community.  I bet they're thinking....this could be her last.  Of course that is true for each of us....this could be our last....so celebrate....make each year memorable....enjoy the days we have!

I admire Lorell.  She is still sharp as a tack and lives by herself.  She does need a walker to get around but that's all....she is amazing.  I bet we will be celebrating a few more birthdays with her!

I think it's cool that Lorell is so healthy and doing great and was able to celebrate 100 birthdays...however I really hope I don't have that same opportunity.  But....if I do I will celebrate and blow my party horn and wear my party hat and laugh at all my wrinkles!

Kathy Jo

It's been awhile since I have seen this girl and so we decided to go to lunch.  It was fun catching up with Kathy.  Her holidays were put on hold while she waited for her new grand to enter this world.  Her daughter started showing signs of labor months early and Kathy was just waiting to go when she was needed.  I believe the baby actually waited until her due date or close anyway.  Kathy has missed a few of our girl outings so I wanted to at least get her out for a little bit.  I would have tried to plan a get together with the other gals too but with so many schedules that is difficult sometimes...this was quick and easy.  I just want to say that Kathy makes me smile....after receiving a "scatter sunshine" bag she has been making up some and giving them out to others that she feels needs them.  I love it!

I can't believe how busy life is these days and how fast time really does go by.  In ways I am glad but in others I'm not.  I enjoy all that is happening but I'm one that wishes or would like to be involved in more.  By that I mean with my family and friends.  I enjoy having fun with the ones I love but have realized that it's impossible to spend the time I would like with everyone.  I guess if I gave up some friendships it could happen but I am not willing to do that.  I love all my friends and I'm just glad for the time when I do get to be with them.  Lunch is an excuse....a yummy excuse...but really it's about the visit.  My mom and her neighbors use to have a "Pepsi" visit where they would sit and visit at their own house while they enjoyed a drink.  Funny how times change. ☺

I'm thankful for "lunch dates" and friends and family and life and time!

Pay it Forward

For several years I have been involved in a silly little game called "Pay it Forward".  It all started when I responded to a post similar to this:  "To start this year off I'm participating in this Pay-It-Forward initiative: The first 5 people who comment on this status with "I'm in" will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year-anything from a book, a ticket, a visit, something homegrown or made, a postcard, anything!  There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.  These 5 people must make the same offer on their FB status so we can form a web of connection and kindness.  Here's to a more enjoyable, more friendly and love-filled year!"

I was excited and posted right away after my first comment (actually after each comment for the first 2 years) and made gifts and got them right out to the ones who commented on my post.  It was fun making gifts for  others.   Funny thing is I never received a gift until this past December. (I received homemade toffee)  It was the first time in 3 years that I actually got a gift for responding.  A few months later I received a cute bag of thank you cards from the very first person I saw do this.  She said she had it ready but never got around to sending it....but finally did.  It made me smile and was a pleasant surprise.  I hope when my recipients receive the gifts I make for them they are equally surprised and happy.

This year after receiving the Toffee I reposted.  Twelve people responded and so I decided that I would just make a gift for everyone. I knew it couldn't be expensive since I was doing 12 and I also knew I wanted to include a positive quote since I love quotes.  This is what I came up with.  I have made half of them and started delivering them today.  I will work on the rest at my convenience. (wink)  Since I have delivered these gifts I have been watching to see if the receivers are going to post and offer their Pay it Forward...so far no one has.  I'm not giving up on anyone and do have my eyes watching.  (maybe I will remind them since that's the whole point of receiving....to Pay it Forward)

Happy Birthday Kelsi Lou

This cute girl celebrated a big birthday today.  She is no longer a teenager! ☺  WooHoo Kelsi!

I love this girl and I love that she loves my son.  I think they are very well matched.  Kelsi isn't crazy like Braxton but she doesn't mind that he is and goes along with him.  Kelsi is sweet, kind, quiet and delightful.  I like her smile that makes her eyes disappear.  I like that Kelsi is a natural beauty and doesn't need all the pampering that some girls just expect these days. (I've been lucky that none of the gals my sons have chosen have been that way...my boys probably knew they could't afford that kind of gal)  I prefer the kind of gals my boys have chosen.  They are easy going and wonderful....all of them.

I'm excited to have Kelsi join our family.  Braxton waited for her longer than he wanted but I think he would agree that she is worth the wait. (of course he would)   I'm excited to get to know this gal better...I'm excited that she wants to spend eternity with my son.  I'm excited that Braxton  was patient and didn't make this decision in his life until he "knew".  I'm excited for the life ahead of these two....it's going to be fun!

Macie Marie's Blessing Day

What a great day to be blessed.  Sweet little Macie was blessed by her daddy today.  It wasn't fast Sunday but it was the day her mommy wanted to have her blessed which Justin said was a good enough reason to do it.  It was awesome to see the circle crowded with worry Priesthood holders. (Macie's Daddy, Grandpa's, Great Grandpa's and Uncles)  The spirit was strong and I know the words that came from Justin's mouth were inspired.  It was a beautiful blessing for a beautiful girl.

I'm so glad that a lady in their ward knows shorthand and writes down the blessings so that the family can have it.  All blessings are special and wonderful but this one was a little different and absolutely wonderful.  I'm so thankful for the Priesthood and that the guys in my family are worthy to hold it and able to give blessings in God's name.  The Priesthood is a wonderful gift.

 I was thankful for our extended family that came to support and celebrate this day with us. (Tonya & Mark, Scott, Erin and their girls, and Brent~those are Justin's Aunts and Uncles)  I love how supportive our families always are....we are truly blessed

The blanket Macie is wrapped in has a wonderful story behind it too.  I won't go into details but the lady that made it didn't even know Macie and was inspired to give it to her. (she was even offered $100 for it but refused to sell it)  A gift from God...a tender mercy!  It was comforting to Macie today and probably will be in the future as well.  God knows us and is very aware of who we are and what we need.  He puts people in our lives to bless us for Him.  Isn't that so unselfish of Him.  He could bless us Himself but lets others be the source or the instrument for the blessings.  That way we grow from it and so does the person who He worked through.  Since we learned that Macie was going to need a little extra help people have gone above and beyond to help Justin and Natalie.  Having this "angel" truly is a blessing.

Macie is such a sweet little one.  She doesn't fuss much.  She can be comforted by wrapping a blanket around her and holding her.   Justin and Natalie have told us that Macie will just lay awake at night and look around.  I know that she see through the veil and is receiving comfort from those that my eyes don't see.  Our family is so grateful for this little one and the things that we have learned already in the short time she has been in our family.  So So Thankful for Macie and all Little's!