Sing Sing Sing!

To say this has been a crazy week (okay, month), would be a gross understatement.

But.

As I was walking into work, thankful for a Friday, I was determined to choose joy. I was singing His praises.

Then.

I got an unexpected piece of information within minutes of walking in the door.

"My God is still the same God as he was before."

But I had a really bad attitude anyway.

I'm so thankful for friends that have weathered this storm with me this month (and continue to do so). And put up with my bad attitude.

And I'm so thankful for His new graces everyday. And His unending love for me. Even with said bad attitude.

For that, I can sing.

(You know, after spending the last 7+ hours with lots of great people!)

Sweet Shot Tuesday

It's true. There's something special about the way a momma holds her little one.

Compassion

Hey, friends!

Many of you have read my post about Jennifer or seen her picture hanging on our pantry door.

Some of you have sponsored Compassion children yourself.

I cant tell you why I feel so strongly about Compassion.

Because, honestly, I don't know.

But when you look at these faces, maybe you'll feel the same.

As I was writing (online) to our sweet Jennifer Saturday, I saw an ad asking sponsors to start a page to help get new sponsors.

You know I have no problem starting new pages. ;)

And I know the people that actually read my blog have the biggest hearts of anyone in the world.

And I know you'd support these faces in anyway you can.

If you can take a second to join the Hickstionary team on my page, please do.

If you have a moment to pray for these children, by all means, what are you waiting for?

If you can afford $38 a month, you know He'd love you to.

And I'd be pretty tickled myself.

So, please. Check it out if you have the time. They're waiting for you.

Lots of love for ya! -Heidi

Week in Review

This picture pretty much sums up my week.

Trying to get 10 things done at once.

(and not necessarily being great at any of them.)

In this case, pulling the P Dub lasagna out of the oven while trying to get a quick picture of the day before getting out the door in heals.

And then not using it as my 'picture of the day' after all.

Tomorrow starts a fresh new week. One where I get another chance to do it all again and hopefully not screw up as much as I did this week.

I love Sundays.

VEISHEA

I love VEISHEA. I've celebrated so many of the different parts of VEISHEA over the years, but one of my favorite VEISHEA activities (besides pancakes and cherry pies) are the horse rides after the parade. There's just something about illegally signing away a child's life that doesn't belong to you and seeing their face light up when they are on top of such a tall animal. We used to get to ride horses growing up. We had horses right outside our front door. We don't anymore so this is a fun way to get to share this experience with our niece and nephews. Without having to scoop poop. Ahhhhh VEISHEA.

(Sorry for the bad picture, but it's the only Cy sighting from the day!)

Maddox really enjoyed the Ames High Marching Band.

Two of our favorite girls got to join us (three counting their mama)!

Mo figuring out what the surprise that required her boots (vs flip flops) was- and very excited about it!

Both of them did such a great job and I think they really loved it!

Ahhhhh VEISHEA!

Sweet Shot {i love spring edition}

I took this week's sweet shot while out for a walk with my sweet husband

(cue the awwws).

Although right before taking this shot, I had planned on using the shadow heart from some pictures I took of my sister and her fiance.

Orrrr pictures of my adorable niece (the princess) and my too fun nephew (the pirate).

Tough choices this week!

Check out more sweet shots on Darcy's blog. There are always some really sweet shots!

Right now isn't the easiest time for a lot of my friends. And when I walk away from some of them, when they cant see me, the tears come to my eyes.

And I cant imagine if I'm feeling this way, how they must be feeling.

And flowers cant fix it.

Today, as I was pulling out of the parking lot, I saw one of my friends walking to her car.

And I could see the pain on her face. And my own tears started rising up.

I said a quick prayer (again) for her (and my other friends). And then I prayed that God would grant some comfort to me over it as well.

ThenIturnedtheradioupandwantedtoforgetaboutitallforjustalittlebit.

And of course the song that came on made me cry. And made me talk to Him.

Flowers cant fix it.

But. HE. can.

And He will.

"No one will ever be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I have been with Moses, I will also be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

"And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

Teacher Gift Ideas- From a Teacher

Kelly's blog hop this week is teacher gift ideas.

As a teacher that sees over 300 students a year, I've gotten a few teacher gifts....

....here are some of my favorites!

-Wallflowers (middle school students after PE..... need I say more?)-iTunes giftcards (great for getting music for activity use since any free music playing sites are blocked on the school internet)
-Clorox wipes, post-its, sharpies (and any other classroom supplies that we typically have to spend our own money on)


-And I've also gotten some really great sentimental gifts that always make me tear up- those are always keepers!

Rain, Rain....

....created this view from my front porch swing tonight.

I think I've mentioned a time [or two] how much I love warm, sunny weather. It's true. I do.

But.

I also love a good downpour every now and again.

It makes my husband happy (he literally watches his grass during the rain to see if it's growing).

It makes Dakota lazy.

And when I have a second to sit out on my porch swing and listen to the rain, it reminds me of sitting on Grandma's porch swing and doing the same thing.

I love the rain.

[You know, once in awhile.]

New Photo Blog!! Special Deal!

I started a new photo blog! I'm doing a special to celebrate so get over there and check it out!!!

I transferred a lot of pictures over there and am hoping in doing this, I will feel more free to blog about daily life on this (our family) blog. I've been missing my normal posts, DIYs, and recipes. So hopefully there will be more of those and less photo shoots on here now!

Thanks for hanging in there with me in the blog world! :)

LAST CALL

LAST CALL for free photo sessions!! If you got the freebie email from me and are wanting to book your free session, please let me know by Wednesday, April 14.

My calendar is filling up fast! (I'm booking through the end of July right now.) And THANK YOU so much for all of your support!! I'm loving it!

________

Updated: It's funny to me that someone clicked they like this post. -Probably my "business manager." =)

__________________

Updated (again):

Freebie sessions are now full. If you didn't get in on them, head over to my new blog. There's a special there NOW!

Sweet Shot Tuesday..... on time! :)

I'm trying not to repost pictures for my sweet shot (otherwise I would have posted the chair/guitar or the one of Jay and the chair up against the wall- you can check those out too though). So here's a new shot for the week. I love warm weather and shooting outside!

Jay Peasley Live

I got to shoot another member of the P family today. Check out Jay's music here then check out his pics below. We got some good shots and didn't even get asked to leave anyone's property. I'd say that's a successful day. Thanks, Jay!!

{more jay shots here}

Psssst... Amy!

I am doing great in the teeth department today.

I had an awesome photo shoot today.

I will be posting those pictures later today.

But until then, here's a shot from today only my cousin will appreciate. ;)

Sweet Shot... (recovering from wisdom teeth extraction edition)

This picture actually is from Tuesday. Just in time for Sweet Shots.

However, due to the lounging around I've been doing just past getting my wisdom teeth out, I hadn't had a chance to link up yet. oye

Our Other Family

I'd been begging this beautiful family to let me take their pictures for a long time. Judging by the fact that I drug them out into the cold for outdoor shots and they had to be very patient with a lighting issue I was having... it will probably take a lot of begging before they'll let me do pictures again. Ha. Thankfully, they are some of our bestest friends and we love these guys. So I'm hoping they'll forgive me soon. :) Thanks for yet another fun time, P family!

Mom

I mentioned to my mom the week before her birthday that I wanted to take some pictures of her on the 'big' day. To my surprise, she actually agreed! AND I even got her to smile for a few of them! :) Although as we were going through them, she still liked the non-smiling one. I'll take it!

We got these right before heading out for what she thought was dinner with some of her kids. This, of course, was right before her big surprise party. :)

Happy Birthday!

Saturday, we had a surprise party for my mom (am I allowed to tell she turned 60?)! She claims she had no idea, but we are all pretty sure she knew.

April 3rd is also my grandma's (39th) birthday so it was a double celebration.

There was lots of cake.

And lots of help opening presents.

(I like this picture because I was blessed to get this amazing cookbook as a gift not too long ago- when I got it back from my mom it had drool on it. When she opened it her friend said, "Is that the cookbook you've been talking about?!?" I'm pretty sure she liked this gift.)

Happy Birthday, Mom and Grandma!

M&M All Dressed Up for Easter

Remember these two?

They are two of the sweetest, most polite, loveyest (oh shush, red squiggly), silliest little girls I know. And look at what great little models they are. Can you believe they are two?