halloween on a budget!

cousin tonya has an annual halloween/costume party

and we always look forward to joining in on the fun.

this year ana had a fantastic idea for us-the black eyed peas!

it was cheap & easy...how can you say no to that?

i don't think we won any awards or anything...but, we had loads of fun!

thanks ana! you always have such creative ideas!

and tonya...thanks for a night

full of fun, as always!

these boots were made for walking!

. . . b e s t f r i e n d s . . .

forest of fear

college friends

friends of mine that have been around for a long time...

and i am so grateful to still have them in my life.

this week-end we got together

to celebrate megan's upcoming nuptials!

a bridal shower for our megan.

i wish i had a shot of all of us together,

because a few of the girls had to leave early.

but, we were too busy enjoying each other

to stop and take a picture.

that says enough for me!

later that evening we went to the forest of fear.

i haven't gone to one of these since college...

oh, how terrified we all were!

some more than others...

but, i won't mention any names! (:

a tribute to our friend mike powers...

we celebrated mike's life yesterday at a memorial at wabasis lake park.

i knew it would be difficult, but i had no idea the flood of pure sadness that overwhelmed me.

this was not supposed to happen...

mike was one of those friends that you don't just happen upon.  

he brought so much with him every time he entered a conversation.

he lived life being intentional.  he was a pursuer of people.  

i think his brother, adam, said it best, 

"he loved his God, and he loved people.

 he just wanted to know you and to be known by you."

he made time for what really mattered.

i don't think any of us that witnessed this memorial 

will ever be the same.

mike's life makes you want to live life 

with more purpose, more intention.

...you will be greatly missed by so many mike powers...

what a legacy you have left behind.

mike's legacy

take time to enjoy a cup of coffee

be curious, listen with love, offer kindness unconditionally

don't be afraid to have doubts and questions in life

see the wonder and raw beauty of the outdoors

laugh (especially if it's an episode of "the office")

fight for the healing and dignity of others

experience music and books that will move you

love with your actions

name and live out your desires

be teachable

tell people today why you love them, value them, cherish them

{mike's legacy was an excerpt taken from the program that was handed out}

last days of summer...

the neighbor kids, liv and i decided to have a bike/croc wash.

what a creative bunch! they were busy making their signs,

getting their supplies ready, washing their bikes & crocs to

show the quality of their workmanship to potential clients...

i was impressed!

take a look...


a little soap and some water...

and there you have it! clean crocs!

this was our first customer...

holding her little furry kitty as she looked on to make sure the job was done right!

....................................

well...these kids put in a good half hour of work before i started to see this happen...

walking off the job site... taking a snooze on the job?

and one of the worst offenders...my livy lu!

did you really think we wouldn't "notice" that you were gone?

s o

s n e a k y !

i guess at the end of the day...

if you can wear a smile that is this great-

nothing really matters...

does it?

*happy birthday*

ok-sOoo... you may be getting a bit tired of hearing

about my birthday month...hang in there...

you only have a few more weeks and this glorious

celebrating will all be over!  **sniff sniff**

i wonder what i will do with my time? (; 

i know that my ever-so-patient husband 

will be glad to get our routine back. . .

where everything doesn't turn into a reason for

lighting candles, bursting into song and going 

on ~mini-surprise adventures~.   

uh, i know...it's getting a little out of hand. 

but, when you have an active little toddler who loves to sing...i mean, i can't

help it if her song choice happens to be  {happy birthday} 

. . . and it would completely crush her if i asked her not to sing it 

at the top of her lungs.    

so, as i tell ben, if you can't beat 'em ~  join 'em.  so i do and sometimes he does too!

 secretly, i think he likes it.   

that's right benji.  i do.   

                            p.s.  i *heart* u!

i must close and i will save the splendid details of my realistic, actual birthDAY for the next blog...i can't wait to tell!