Celebrating Gina

Today is Gina's Birthday and it is also Easter.  Last year it was so important for Gina to celebrate Easter with her loved one's even though she was really sick.  She also put on a smile for her birthday and enjoyed her family.  Because her birthday landed on Easter this year Rex knew that he had to do something special.  He wanted to have a celebration in honor of Gina and send her 53 balloons.  The time that was set worked out so that I could attend.  I left church a little early and was home in plenty of time to help get dinner ready for the family.  I'm so glad that I was able to go.  I could feel Gina's sweet spirit on my way there.  Of course she was there for her celebration.

Rex talked a little about some of his memories and let anyone else that wanted to share do so.  Not many spoke up but I am sure they were remembering like I was.  I had known of Gina since Junior High School but I din't know her until a few years ago when our paths crossed.  I met her and her daughter at a crafting day at Kathy Moore's.  She was all smiles and so fun.

Me and my friends were able to follow her journey while she fought the cancer that was taking her life.  Gina never complained and was always expressing her faith in our God.  I admired that about her.  I loved how she wasn't afraid or shy about talking of God and His love for us.  She truly left her life in His hands and knew that whatever His will was she would be fine.  Gina was a wonderful, positive example to everyone.  She influenced many that she only knew from the internet...her strong spirit was felt and loved by all.

She never quit fighting. Even when she knew that the cancer was stronger than any medicine she continued to try them all.  I know she did that for her daughter and her grand...so they would know that she never gave up.

I love this dear friend of mine.  I am so glad that she came into my life before hers was complete.  She inspires me still.  I am a better person because I have known Gina and got to rub shoulders with her.

Weekly Tidbits

Scattering Sunshine is Fun to Do!

I like when I have Sunshine Bags ready to go.  Then when I feel impressed that someone needs one I have it and can take it to them.  Last week when I took the kids to Tumbling Dana asked me if she was going to get her own Sunshine Bag.  I thought about it and thought heck YES if she asks then she probably needs one.  Dana is always doing for others and sometimes people like Dana get over looked.  Dana is a great gal and has helped my daughter and grands out at times and so it was fun to give a Scatter Sunshine bag to Dana.  Actually I let Ivy take it to her because I was at  Braxton and Kelsie's Birthday Dinner with Larry.  I bet Ivy enjoyed giving it to Dana too!  There's something about giving to others that just feels good!

I took a Sunshine Bag to Crystal today before she went in to have surgery on her thyroid.  This girl has brought lot's of sunshine to my life.  She was my friend when I pulled away from others.  She kept calling me and including me which was a huge blessing to me.  I love Crystal.  She is one of the kindest and purest of friends.  I feel blessed to know this gal so well.  She is a friend that I also count as family.  Larry has know Brad since he was born and so the bounds there are great.  I have loved Crystal since I met her.  She is such a great example of "good".

Birthday Dinner for Braxton and Kelsi

Tonight we took Braxton and Kelsi to dinner for their Birthdays.  They chose to go to Famous Dave's.  I love the smell of Famous Dave's....the food tastes pretty good too.  I love these kids.  They are so cute together and such a great match.  It's so fun adding to our family.  I like the choices my kids have made.  Some times I hear people say they really don't care for the ones being added to their family but I guess I have been blessed because I have loved every single one.  I still love and care about the ones that aren't officially ours anymore....but will always be a part of our lives because of the grands.

I love spending the time with our Birthday kids at dinner.  It isn't often we have one on one time with them.  I cherish these times....and I cherish each of my kids and my sweet hubby that makes it happen.

Braxton is "25" WooHoo

I love this boy of mine!  Braxton is such a fun, loving, hard working, wonderful kid.  He makes me smile. ☺  He is such a joy and has always made me smile...he has also made me want to pull my hair out but that was my problem not his!  Braxton is talented and loves life.  He works hard and he plays hard.  He is clever, witty, funny, fun and very spiritual.  He's just a well rounded kid.

I love thinking back over the years and can't help but smile.  Braxton has always been a good kid and I never worried about his choices.  (at least between right and wrong)  He has always been a spiritual kid and has never wavered in his testimony.  His first word was Jesus and I truly feel like Braxton has always followed Jesus and done his best to be like Him.

Braxton enjoys life to it's fullest and is always ready for adventure!  He adds so much to our family and I am so blessed to call him son and be his mom.  Braxton Bennett Ropelato we L♥VE YOU!!!

Easter Dinner & Easter Egg Hunt

I love Easter and Our Family Traditions.  It's so much fun for me and I know that my family enjoys it too.  Me and the kids color Easter Eggs...this year it was just Jared and I.  We tried using shaving cream and food coloring (we also tried ink) to get a pretty, swirly, marbled look.  It didn't work for us.  It works great on shiny card stock but wiped right off the eggs.  So we just put the coloring on a paper towel and smeared it all over the eggs. It worked just fine!  I decided that this year we wouldn't hide the hard boiled eggs and we would just enjoy them with our dinner.  I know Mya liked that idea...I heard her tell her daddy she ate three. ☺  Besides we had 350 plastic eggs to hide...a dozen more wouldn't make a big difference.

We don't have a traditional dinner but I liked this years.  I went for Easter colors for our meal.  We had chicken roll-ups, pink mashed potatoes, purple gravy, corn, pastel deviled eggs, bunny bait,  and an orange salad.  Natalie made a yummy dessert. (have I ever mentioned that Natalie is a great cook and so nice to always offer to bring something)  We ate dinner before the hunt so the kids would eat good.  I think it worked.  I think my grands are so dang cute.  I point my camera at them and they either "cheese out" or make the funniest goofy faces.  Oh they make this gramma's heart smile! ♥  Macie is healing so nicely from her surgery and was all smiles today.  She is so cute!

We let the little's go out first and hunt on the North side of the house.  That way they get plenty of eggs before everyone goes hunting.  I love watching them run around the yard collecting eggs.  It's one of my favorite things.  They're just so cute!

I get the biggest kick out of watching my older kids go hunting for Easter Eggs.  This year the older boys held Braxton down so that everyone else could have a head start.  I think they know that Braxton is fast.  It made me laugh but I didn't realize Braxton couldn't breathe...they didn't hold him down long. He didn't pass out before they let him up...thank goodness.  Everyone runs around and I run around chasing them with the camera!  Oh Happy...Fun Day!  Gramps even collected a few eggs for baby Macie...how cute it that?

Usually we hide money in the eggs to get our big kids out there.  This year we surprised them because we didn't hide any money.  With Larry's surgery we just didn't have extra.  They all understood completely and said it wasn't about the money anyway....but I know that's what gets them out there....you just never know how clever Larry might be.

One year Larry marked a  few eggs and had some big prizes to go with them.  He made sure there were enough marked for everyone.  I know at least one of the kids had two of the marked eggs which meant one of the kids didn't get one and because the one with two was willing to share they were rewarded extra.  It was a fun year!

My family is the joy of my life.  From the time I was very small I always wanted to be a mommy and have my own family.  I was so glad that Larry felt the same.  We have such awesome, fun kids.  They warm my soul and continue to make me smile.  I am such a better person because of each one of them.  They have helped me to recognize my strengths and weakness.  They have filled my heart with love and helped me realize we are capable of loving much more than we can even imagine!  There is always more room for more love.

I love being Larry's wife!  I love being a mom!  I love being a gramma!  I love our family traditions!  I love Easter!  I love all the fun things about Easter but I also love the "sacred" part of Easter.  I love thinking about Jesus and His life.  He lived for others always!  His life was all about serving others...His death was all about each of us.  His resurrection brings Joy and Hope to my soul.  I know because of Him we will all be resurrected too and be able to be with our Heavenly Parents again.  I really am Trying to Be Like Jesus!

Christine was Kind

For my talk I wanted to display a picture of the 10 Virgins and I just couldn't find one.  I asked a few people in my ward but didn't have any luck.  So, I posted a little message on fb that I was looking for the 10 Virgins picture to borrow.  Christine said that she had the picture and that I could borrow it from her.  Bless her heart!  Kindness Inspire Kindness and so to let her know that I really appreciated her I took her a Sunshine Bag when I returned the picture.  I truly appreciated Christine for letting me borrow her beautiful picture.