Today I was checking my comments and was surprised to receive an award from Gaelikaa. This was such an honor because Gaelikaa is an amazing person. She writes about her life in India, which fascinates me...it really makes you realize how blessed we are here in America.

Here's My Award

The assignment is- a)Write a few lines on how happy you are.

b) Pass it on to as many bloggers you can think of:

My Answer:

I'm happy because I am blessed with an amazing husband and family. Even though money is tight, I am the richest person in the whole world! The Lord has truly blessed me!

We all need to take some time each day to remember the important things in our life...the things that bring us true happiness.

I want to pass this award on to YOU and:

AMY

APRIL

JANAE

TRISH

KC Mom

...love Maegan

ROBBIE

I hope you will all enjoy thinking about what makes you happy!

Be sure to stop by this post by Robbie

...scroll down and read this

"Great Faith (part 2 of 7)".

This should be embedded in our bathroom mirrors to read each and every morning. Whether your married or not...THIS IS A MUST READ!

We need more click's on my dad's video for KODAK FATHER OF THE YEAR! He is winding down his chemo treatments for his inoperable 4th stage lung cancer and we really want him to win so he can get a dream vacation! THANK YOU EVERYONE!

MUST SEE~Kodak Father of the Year Video~  My dad is a finalist! Kodak sent my sister a free camera and said to shoot some footage, which she titled "Super Cop." They will be picking a winner and here's where you come in...my dad is batteling inoperable 4th Stage Lung Cancer and if he wins he will be given an all expense paid vacation. This will be a much needed and deserved break from his chemo treatments. I need you to stop by and just watch it. If some of you can post the link so your friends can also watch it, I think he may win! I KNOW he deserves it...he is still working 2 JOBS while fighting this! He is the FATHER OF THE YEAR!!

Thank you Minti Family for all your support!

 

I wrote about and posted a picture on my blog...I HAVE SMASH FACE!!! I was wondering if any of you moms have the same thing? Stop by and see, CLICK HERE~SMASH FACE PICTURE

It's prayer request Wednesday. After you read the incredible story below, be sure to leave your prayer requests in the comment section. I will add it to our weekly HB Gathering Group to have others pray for you! Don't carry your burdens alone another day, turn them over to the Lord!

Cherokee Indian Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His dad takes him into the forest –blindfolded-and leaves him...alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night...and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood. The boy was terrified-could hear all kinds of noise...Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth...and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically - never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a horrific night...the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him...at watch...the entire night.

We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us...He is sitting on the stump beside us. All we have to do is reach out to Him.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9

 

 

I've been having a rough couple of days. I haven't been able to go to sleep until after 3:00 a.m. for the past week. Then I try to get up and get ready in the morning and I'm knocking things over, bumped into a wall, stabbed myself in the eye with my makeup brush and then........THIS!

My dog (Siberian Husky) lays in the walk ways, sprawled out making us step over her all the time. Normally I'm pretty graceful, stepping carefully over her without a problem. This morning however, in my sleep deprived state, I went to step over her, she moved at the exact same time leaving me nowhere to put my foot as I tried to avoid stepping on her leg.

I had nothing to grab onto as I went completely down, my right arm twisting back to break my fall. Both feet coming off the ground, smacking my butt on the hard wood floor, my back flopping back, landing on the corner of her stinky, hairy bed. I guess I still stepped on her and she started yelling (howling) and charged at me as I lay on my back, legs in the air, eyes wide staring directly into hers. She seemed scared and confused, wondering why I stepped on her and then had the nerve to lay on her bed!

I started yelling at her and then quickly jumped up, afraid my husband or son would walk in, while I lay sprawled out on the dogs bed and start laughing at me...paying me back for always making fun of them when they fall. Just thought you would all love to get the visual and start your Monday off with a laugh! Twitter Updates

Celebrate, Reflect and Enjoy-4th of July

  My family was all in Utah together for the 4th (we couldn't afford to go), but made the best of it here. It's always hard for us because it's the anniversary of my brother John's death. I usually start to get a little edgy and emotional the week leading up to the 4th. I try to make sure we have lots of plans, the busier I am the easier it is.

I decided to treat myself to a new bike this year...last year we were the Beverly Hillbilly's of OC with our crappy, squeaky, rusty bikes. I haven't had a brand new bike since I was 14 years old! I figured it was time...also I thought it would encourage me to get out and exercise more. I was going to get my usual boys beach cruiser in black, I'm such a tomboy that I don't usually like flashy. But I decided at the last minute to get a shiny purple and silver girl bike. What do ya think?


We rode down to the parade, stopped by to meet some friend's at a house party, but it was all adults and the little guys wanted to hang out with us for a while (we wont have very many years left of them wanting to be with the "parents" since they're 14 & 15. So we told them we'd be back later and rode around with the kids.

Anthony's sister's and all their kids ended up coming down and we met up with them, got some lunch and had a picnic at the park with them and some other friends who met up with us. The boys ended up leaving and me and Anthony headed home for a quick rest before we had to ride back down for the fireworks show.

I had to leave and go pick up Josh from work. I was sitting in the LONG line of cars waiting to turn, when a group of bikers came riding in between all the cars and some parked cars. Some girls were obviously drunk...one girl turned around to talk to her friends and ran smack into the back of a parked car and flipped over the top of her bike, denting the car. Okay now you are all going to know how mean I am...I LAUGHED so hard. I always do when someone trips or falls. I can't help it! I wasn't alone, all the other cars were yelling, honking and laughing too! I didn't feel as bad. She was okay, but she did a bike hit and run. The owner of the car came running out of the house party, but the girl was long gone. I'll take entertainment anyway I can get it.

When we got back down to the beach it was FREEZING. The little guys never came home and had only swim trunks and tank shirts. They were shivering and complaining...we brought them some jackets and I got these pics of them racing toward the backpack and then fighting with a friend for the warmest one.

Elijah, Adam & Friend racing to the backpack for sweatshirts.

The boys fighting over the warm sweatshirts

 

Even Anthony was cold.




Elijah, Friend (Harry), and Adam

Crowd in the ampitheatre.

Crowds watching street performers.

More Crowds in the dreaded Out House line.

My hubby & me trying to stay warm.



Waiting for the fireworks to start.

YAY...FINALLY!

All in all it was a good day and I didn't even cry once...which was a first. We love and miss you John!

My brothers...John hugging Troy. Yes it was the 80's (hence the mullet)LOL!  

It's been a while since I've posted and my dear friend Janice stopped by for a visit, which reminded me that I need to update more frequently.

I just returned from a date night with my hubby. There wasn't any good movies out so we decided to visit the discount $3.00 movie theater and watch an older movie. We had some sushi and then went to see "I Love You Man." I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised...we both were cracking up throughout the whole movie.

If you get a chance make sure you rent it when it comes out. It was really cute...I'm always up for a movie that actually makes me laugh out loud (which doesn't happen very often, I'm hard to please). LOL!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

 

I submitted pictures of my son to the top modeling agencies in the world because he needed to find a job and I'm a "think outside the box" type of person. We received 3 immediate responses, with two of them battling for him. We finally signed with the agency who seemed to move their models to the top the quickest Red Model Management.

He was immediately posted as Red Hot! on MODELS.COM (See Here)...this was crazy...it happened so fast. They posted a You Tube video of him (you can tell he didn't know what to say...LOL). Next he was flying off to New York for a week (he comes home tomorrow) for several photo shoots and castings. Calvin Klein gave him their brand new clothing line to wear for a photo shoot! Homme Star posted his polaroid that I took (not bad for an amateur huh?)

Click the links above and check out some of his pics and leave comments if you want...he LOVES them. This has been quite a whirlwind experience. They said he may even go to Milan in June to walk at fashion week...not bad for a 17 year old kid! We're all so happy for him!!

IN THE NEWS

NEW FACE ALERT!

 

We had a very emotional day yesterday. Jullien called me to run him over to the hospital because one of our friends son had just passed away. I was in shock, tried to wrap up the work I was right in the middle of, but my brain was in a fog. I kept thinking, "It can't be true, he'll be okay."

When we arrived at the hospital, there were tons of people there from the high school already, standing and crying in the hall. It was just unbelievable...a 16 year old isn't supposed to die. We have known the family for years. Our kids have played on rival baseball teams and on the same All Star Team for several years in a row.

The dad and his two sons had just returned from their "DREAM COME TRUE" Superbowl. They have been die hard Steelers fans since we first met them. Not just any typical fan...they had flags flying around their house, on their motor home, cars and the dad wore his Steelers jacket year round. They had gone to the game and had the time of their lives...they got to see their beloved Steelers win the Superbowl in person.

The oldest son had been sick and yesterday in the early morning hours was vomiting. His little brother found him unconscious on the bathroom floor. They had revived him at the hospital a few times but eventually were unable to.

They held a candlelight vigil for him last night with over 100 people from the community attending. It was an incredible outpouring of love. The parents attended and thanked everyone for their love and support. They are just in complete shock. I couldn't believe they were even able to show up, I don't think I could have.

Later that evening as I got ready for bed I couldn't help but think about the things that keep me awake at night. All of the worrying over bills, money, my schedule, work...these things are all meaningless. Our kids, spouse, parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents- FAMILY, FRIENDS AND GOOD HEALTH is the only thing that really matters in this world.

Make sure you stop and put your priorities straight today. Hug your kids and family members, tell them you love them, stop stressing and worrying over the unimportant things of this life. This could be the last day you have them...did you waste your time on worrying, instead of building a loving relationship with the people who mean the most to you. My friends would give up everything they have in this world to be able to hug, kiss and talk to their child again.

I needed to be reminded of this and I know a lot of you probably do too.