Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Someday I hope to be part of this wonderful organization. For those of you unfamiliar with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, this non-profit organization provides infant bereavement photography at no-charge to grieving families. You can learn more about NILMDTS by clicking HERE.

Digital Scrapbooking Page #2

I worked on this one at the July Faithbooking Crop and plan to hang it as a 12x12 print on my Everyday Display as a reminder of our fun dates. Speaking of which, we are WAY overdue!

July Faithbooking Lesson

Wowee... I'm so sorry for the delay my friends! This month's lesson was centered on the value of traditions. The world we live in is fraught with change; traditions give us a sense of certainty in the uncertainty of life. They are the cement that keep the family together and help us withstand the storms that come. Traditions enhance a family's sense of identity and serve as a connection between generations.

Here are some ideas for creating new traditions of your own:

1. Have a special dinner plate to be used by a family member who has a reason to celebrate.
2. Collect or make one ornament each year that has special meaning to the family.
3. At Thanksgiving, help serve food at a homeless shelter or invite those without families of their own to dinner.
4. Draw names for secret pals the before Valentine's Day. Perform small acts of service and kindness for that person, then reveal your identities on Valentine's Day.
5. Make heart-shaped cookies and give them to those in your neighborhood or congregation who are alone.
6. Make it a tradition to do something special on the last day of school.
7. Christmas Card Prayers: After dinner but before everyone is excused, read aloud the Christmas cards that arrived that day. Take a few minutes to pray for the senders and then display the cards on your Christmas tree.
8. Make the first morning in May a special one for a friend, neighbor, or teacher by leaving a May Day basket for them.
9. Saturday is Dad's day to make breakfast with the kids.
10. Use resources from Heritage Builders to create your own fun-filled Family Night tradition.

A couple of great books on the subject include The Intentional Family: Simple Rules to Strengthen Family Ties, Creating Family Traditions: Making Memories in Festive Seasons, and Family Traditions: Practical, Intentional Ways to Strengthen Your Family Identity (just click on each book title for more information).

"All we have to work with is today. We must maximize the opportunities we have today and memorialize the moments, making impressions that will last a lifetime - through traditions." ~Author Unknown

games baby shower ladies play

The Infamous Dice Game and...

the ever popular Poopy Diaper Game.

Our house was filled with laughter as we celebrated the birth of my 3-week-old nephew. Here are a couple more shots from the day:

The mom-of-honor, my youngest sister.

It was one really bad hair day.

Actually, some Wisconsin fans brought Beth Moore a cheesehead hat. Looks like a close shot, doesn't it? That's because it was taken from SECOND ROW!!! And wouldn't you know it... we sat once again by The Pink Ladies, a wonderful group of women from Chicago.

I'm dog-tired and still have a baby shower to get ready for tomorrow. Once I have a moment to sit with my notes, I'll be sure to share some of the highlights from her talk. Until then... sweet dreams!

Fourth row, can you believe it?!!

See, geekiness does pay off. (We left 3-1/2 hours before the doors opened; seating was on a first-come basis.) Only Beth Moore could make the Target Center feel intimate - she left the stage dozens of times to sit with different ladies while in the midst of her talk. She was only a stone's throw away!

Some shots of us in line (above) and in fourth row (below). Unfortunately, I only brought the point-and-shoot camera. UGH!

The message title: Between a Rock & a Hard Place (guess who's the Rock?) It was AWESOME but we have an early day ahead of us tomorrow. I'll share more with "y'all" later... (Until then, I'll leave you with the same verse she left us with.)

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

tonight's the night...

Beth Moore is in town this weekend! If you still haven't picked up a ticket, head on over to Northwestern Bookstore today.

It looks like she's a bit concerned about the humidity (you know Beth and her hair). Pray for her sensitive locks...

Have a great day; I'll be sure to update as soon as I have the chance!