Guess Who's Back?

Okay so that post title probably isn't so funny to you unless you read Jon Acuff's blog... he did a post during lent about all the people 'fasting' from technology and the big dramatic entrance they make upon reentry into the blog world. I don't do lent and didn't plan a blog fast but it kind of ended up that way. I closed my blog in February (upon posting this it still isn't open so you* can't even read this**). I had several people ask me why and I always had a different answer. Which was telling that it was definitely time for a blog break if I could come up with that many reasons to step away from it.

*I'm not sure who "you" is...  I'm also not sure if a tree really fell if no one heard it.

**But if you are reading this, did you hack into my account? And if you did. Get off it please. Thanks....

Okay. Moving on..

Biggest reason: The boy. I didn't (and still don't) know what is fair for me to share about him. If he reads my blog when he's older, is he going to be glad to see a record of a his life and love letters from his mama or upset I used him as content? Will he think a story about what he acted like as a baby (child?) funny or be embarrassed that I shared it with the world? Who knows? I sure don't!
I also wonder a tiny bit about the safety of it. Leading up to my blog break, I had several people I didn't know see me around town and tell me they read my blog. It was mostly parents of kids my husband or I worked with. While those people aren't a threat, it got me to thinking about the thousand other people on here that I don't know.

Reason #2: Time.
Okay this isn't really that big of a deal. I wasn't (ever) spending tons of time blogging. It wasn't a giant time suck for me. Especially once I added blogger to my phone and could throw up a blogpost in 2 minutes while waiting in the Drs office or whatever. So it wasn't that it was sucking a lot of time, it's just that I wanted to be more mindful of being a better steward of ALL of my time. Like those seconds should have more purpose to them. Or something.

Okay and I was insecure about the time people thought I was 'wasting' blogging. I've heard people say "How does she have time to blog?!?" about other bloggers and really didn't want them to say that about me. Which brings me to

Reason #3: Insecurity.
Oh yeah. That's a big one. I didn't realize it at first. It's one that snuck up on me and completely surprised me. But it's true- I'm totally insecure about my momness.  I don't feel too different from other moms- just doing what works best for me and my family. But I feel like I should be doing better. I feel like I've had all the classes and read all the books and worked with so many kids that I should just be better. Is it crazy? Yes. Does it make sense? No. Just another thing about this new role that I can't explain I guess. It becomes an issue when I'm failing at being super mom and there's witnesses. Or- when I'm feeling really good about what I'm doing as a mom but people still judge. ("Oh you're STILL breastfeeding? He's gonna have teeth and be biting you soon. Don't you think he'd be more satisfied with formula? You really need to be starting him on solids. OH you finally started him on solids? You should have done that months ago. You started with apples? Aren't you supposed to do veggies before fruit? Why didn't you start with cereal? What kind of sleep training are you doing? You're NOT sleep training?? Well!"- I'd go on but I think you get the point.)

Enough already with the judging. Why do we feel so compelled to judge new moms? Especially other moms. I find it fascinating and did a little independent research on the subject. I found all kinds of studies supporting a theory that says we feel like it's our responsibility to help make sure the next generation survives. The whole 'it takes a village' mentality I guess. I agree- it does take a village. And B has a whole lot of people to love and nurture him along. I love that he has a village loving on him. I just wish they'd keep their opinions to themselves.


Those are the top three reasons. I've shared other excuses with those that have asked and could probably add about 10 to the list here but these are the main biggies as to why I stepped away.

Today I 'stepped back.' The top two reasons- was out to lunch with another new mom today. We discussed the importance of 'me' time. I realized I didn't know how to take or spend 'me' time anymore and realized I used to get 'me' time through blogging. And secondly- my husband told me to start blogging again. But that may be a post for another day....

Short story long. I'm back. Maybe.

My Hopes for 2011.

As I type this, it's still 2010. Christmas is just around the corner and we are getting ready to welcome in 2011. While career and health wise, 2010 (and 09, and....) was a challenging year, the year did bring high hopes for a bright future.

To choose one quote to sum up my feelings on 2010 it would be:

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -Einstein

Choosing one word for 2010: opportunity.

With multiple challenges at work, God placed an amazing opportunity in my lap (literally- in the form of a new camera near the end of 2009). I started the year with a new hobby and it morphed into a part-time, then full-time (when I could find the the time) job.

I discovered that I loved it. And that, with some adjustments, I could possibly make it a career.

We were (still) struggling with infertility. (As I type this, we still are- please don't correct my tense use English teachers- I have high hopes that God will change this from 'are' to 'were' by the time this posts.

We think about adoption. We talk about adoption. We've yet to act upon adoption.

It is in our hearts and we do hope to adopt someday but at this point I'm longing for a newborn in our arms.

Photographing newborns is such a treasure to me. I meet these tiny, precious, miracles just a few days old and I just fall in love. I'm completely in awe of them. I take the job of capturing their brand newness seriously. I'm truly blessed to get the chance to take on this job. I am humbled and honored that parents would choose me to capture these memories and that God would use me to record this moment in their lives.

I think about adoption and how, in some cases, parents may not get to meet their little one as a newborn (and sometimes not until much later). My heart aches for them but I love that this job helps me to preserve that special newborn time.

I had a dream last night. Rusty and I were cuddling on our very own newborn. We were so happy. I believe God. I believe that He has a big plan for us. I pray, oh I pray, that His plan for us involves blessings in the form of babies. To be honest, I had lost hope that it did until I woke up from my dream last night. It was the happiest I had been in such a long time. Even as I awoke, I wasn't sad that it was only a dream- I was happy that it was God's way of telling me whats yet to come. I trust in Him. I have high hopes for this year.

As I think about opportunity in the middle of difficulty, I have to wonder if His plan for me might involve using my pain from longing for a newborn and applying it to photography. I would love, love, love to start photographing more newborns and maybe He's given me the love I need for them by making it so much more meaningful to me.

I pray that when this posts (long after I've forgotten about it and right when I will be surprised to see it) that I'm on a new career path, that I'm holding a baby in my arms, and that R and I love each other more than ever. I pray that we will be praising God for all the blessings in 2011 and thanking Him for carrying out His will in our lives.

I know I'm thankful for His will in my life in 2010. I don't fully understand it yet, but I feel so blessed.

TTMT - the RAK edition

It's the RAK edition of TTMT. Your job was to do a random act of kindness and come back to report about it. Secret Agent L is a resource for you.

My RAK:

Next week's TTMT: Show us what's in your purse. Dig it out and take a picture. The catch- you have to do it right now, no taking anything out or adding to it.

Talk To Me.... YOUR Turn!

TTMT:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Okay- This one is updated because some of you emailed me great ideas and I must have deleted them or something because I can't find them now! Sorry. :( Leave them in the comments here (PLEASE!). :)

And I guess that gets me out of participating in this week's (actually I'm auto publishing this on Thursday so I don't miss the date again....). :) But PLEASE play this week. And get started on next week's if you haven't yet. It should be fun!! And since I'm auto-publishing and changing the date- can I point out that I love when the date is so easy to write... we get to do that three times this year.

Next weeks:

This one is a do rather than an answer.... Go out and do a random act of kindness. Post the idea on your page. (For ideas see Secret Agent L's blog... you may recognize one on there from my friend Secret Agent (other) L)

best of

We have been talking about the blessings jar around here forever for awhile forever. We talked about changing the November calendar to the every month calendar. We took a photo a day of all the good things. We like remembering the good times and praising Him for them. So this idea is (almost) perfect for us. Modified a bit to showcase the top ten of each month, here is our method for tracking the best of 2011:

While not 365, there's still a lot of spaces to fill in. That's a lot of good times ahead, friends. Happy counting your blessings all year round!

Happy Birthday!!

It's my friend Lisa's birthday- she's 28 (or so) today. ;)

She's a fabulous lady with a huge heart that would do anything for anyone. When I think back to some of the times that I needed someone the most over the last few years- Lisa's been there.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!!! Love ya! :)

TTMT (yes I know it's Thursday again!)

I've had a few people checking in on me as I skipped TTMT (again). Rest assured, the Hicks family is doing okay! We are just trying to get back into the swing of being back at work but still having appointments, basketball, photo sessions, and all the other things going on.

Here is another Thursday version of TTMT:

This week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

Right now the verse I think about the most is Isaiah 40:31. It's a favorite of a lot of people (but ironically not one of mine). I actually have had it stuck in my head because I had made a necklace that said it for one of my best friends. It had been sitting on the counter waiting to be wrapped for awhile so I just tried it on one day before work and wouldn't you know- it fit. I ended up liking it a lot and made my friend another version of the necklace so I could keep this one myself wouldn't have to give her a used necklace. :) I've been reminded of this verse daily as I wear it bound on my neck and continually try to rest in Him.

One of my real favorite verses:

Hebrews 11:1- "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and sure of what we cannot see."

Though I have a lot of favorites, I don't have a lot of time right now so maybe I'll update this later.. and start taking my own advice on auto publishing TTMs so we can all play along a little better! :)

Next week's:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Okay- That one is updated because some of you emailed me great ideas and I must have deleted them or something because I can't find them now! Sorry. :( Leave them in the comments here (PLEASE!). :)

The next, next weeks:

This one is a do rather than an answer.... Go out and do a random act of kindness. Post the idea on your page. (For ideas see Secret Agent L's blog... you may recognize one on there from my friend Secret Agent (other) L)

Okay: So what's your favorite verse (or one you are currently leaning on)? Comment with your link to it here. And thanks for your patience as the Tuesdays roll into Wedn.... Thursdays. Love y'all!

Updated: If you don't blog, YES you can still play. Leave your answer in the comments.

For Sale

Just in case you don't check the {cb}h blog everyday. ;)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2011

For Sale

In case Santa brought you a DSLR for Christmas......

These lenses have been sitting at the Hicks' Ranch waiting for a good home. I thought my little sister would have a DSLR by now and they would finally have a new home but she didn't and they don't. So I'm offering them to you. Email me if you are interested.

Canon 50mm prime 1.8 II: New $120/For Sale: $65 SOLD

Canon 55-250 F/4.0-5.6 IS: New: $299/For Sale: $150 SOLD

Perspective

As I'm reading facebook statuses of what everyone is looking forward to in 2011, it strikes me as funny how perspective is so different. I lost track of the number of statuses that were looking forward to not being pregnant in 2011. After reading the first one I felt a little sting; after reading the 20th+ one I had to laugh. Perspective.

When I say, "Wow, you are so big- you look great!" to a pregnant friend, she may hear, "Wow, you look like a whale." when what I mean is, "Wow, you have been busy growing a baby, that's amazing and you really do look great. Pregnant women everywhere are jealous of how good you look and I'm jealous that you have that magic superpower that I don't have." Perspective.

When people say to me, "Your time will come" "You'll make a great mom" You are so lucky to not have to deal with kids right now" and I hurt, I really need to remember they mean, "I really believe your time is coming" "You'll make a great mom" and.... well, I'm not sure what they mean by that last one.... Perspective.

I upset a few people with my post about "Please don't tell me." People told me it wasn't fair for me to say that and that I'm shutting people out by being so sensitive. For the most part I didn't respond to those people (and if you're reading this post, waiting for a response to that, consider this my apology for ignoring you). But I have to disagree. For me, that post opened a lot of lines of communication and I've talked to so many women about the very issue. What I realized from all of it is that it's okay for my feelings to be hurt by some of those things- that's human nature. But when I was so focused on how sad those things made me, what I really need to be focused on is the heart behind the person saying those things. When someone gives you unsolicited advice, I really do believe they think they are trying to help. When someone tells you how good you look, they surely mean it. When someone tells you how great you are, they do love you.

So I've been thinking about this perspective thing a lot. The other night, a friend was here with her three kids. I was having a pow wow with the youngest and she said to me what a great mother I'll be. I know you're expecting me to tell you how bad it hurt to hear that- but it didn't. It felt good. For the first time- I believed it.

Perspective.

Here's to a new year with a fresh, new perspective. Happy 2011!

{cb}h in the new year

2010 brought so many changes and exciting opportunities to us here at the Hicks' Ranch. I am excited to see what is ahead for us.
I'm also excited to see what 2011 has in store for {cb}h. What started as a hobby for me, has turned into a business and it is very exciting!
When I started, it was (who am I kidding... it still is) difficult for me to not do photos for free for everyone. While I did several (and that's an understatement) free sessions, I got to a point where I finally had to stop. Photography is an expensive undertaking and it is very time consuming. While it's something that I LOVE to do, it is still work.
Alex from M Studios said that they made the choice to not offer any discounting to family and friends to make it easy. She pointed out that they are friends with their friends because of who they are and because they like to hang out with them, not because they can (or cant) afford their photography services.
I have to say, I completely agree with her!
The other side of it is that not all of my friends like my photography style. And that's okay! I also don't have the same clothing choices and taste in decorating as most of my friends. That doesn't mean I don't love 'em! I would never want for someone to feel obligated to give me business just because we are friends. I have friends/family with long time photographers they've been using. I have friends that prefer Portrait Innovations (well I don't really know of any that do... I'm just giving an example). And it's really okay. Just like I can't afford to do free sessions for everyone, I don't expect everyone to be able to afford or even want a session with me.
So while I wont be doing free sessions in 2011, I will be offering a few special deals available to friends/family only. Most of them I'll email out- let me know if you want on that email list! All of them will be first come, first serve. And, of course, I'll still be having client specials on the {cb}h page that you can take advantage of!
Thanks so much for your support in 2010! I'm so excited to work with you (or not- we can still be friends!) in 2011!!

525,600 Minutes

2010 in review.

Family. Friends. Love. Lots of snow. Drs appointments. Budget cuts. Pictures. Spring. New business. Garage sale. Saying goodbye. Saying hello. Laughter. Wisdom teeth. Tears. Great Plains. Knoxville. UT. Smoky Mountains. DI. Surprise Birthdays. KC Trips. Cousins. New bike. With a basket. Hay bale jumping. Sleeping outside on a blanket. Junk repurposing. Farmers Marketing. Porch swing sitting. Las Vegas. Wedding. Down home reception. Visiting friends. Flooding. Editing. Tree cutting. Website building. Painting. Basement. New family room. New home studio. Niece. Nephews. Jokes. Corn. Junk Bonanza. IKEA. MOA. Bike rides. Crafting. Serving. Playing. Faith. Growing. Persevering. Praying. Surviving. Finding joy. Looking life in the face- ready for more. Hoping.

Talk to Me..... Thursday?

So I'm obviously enjoying my break..... I've officially lost track of what day it is.

I was taking a break from editing today to catch up on blogs... and noticed Feisty's new TTM post. But she was obviously ahead of the game because it couldn't be Tuesday yet..... right? Uh.... oops.

Break is obviously going way too fast because apparently Tuesday has come and gone and tomorrow is the last day of the year. Yikes.

Today's Talk To Me...(Thursday) is:

What's something you're hopeful for in 2011?

I ditto what Feisty said. We've been praying about it for forever awhile.

I'm also hopeful about {cb}h. I cant wait to see what He has in store for {cb}h this year. I have some big ideas of where I would like to be with it by the end of 2011.

I am looking forward to the start of the new year. I'm thankful for the growth 2010 brought but I'm ready to see what 2011 has in store for us! I'm looking forward in Hope. For us and for you, too!

Next week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

Next, next week's:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Hope.

photo credit: manywallpapers

Alternately titled valleys.

"You're in a valley right now. We don't know for how long, but you're in it and you're in deep. You have to keep going through it. It seems daunting but you will make it through. And while you're here, God is going to teach you about yourself. He's going to teach you about your marriage. He's going to teach you about patience, about perseverance, faith, love, hope, goodness, about life- and you better be paying attention."

The valley.

Are you in one right now?

Is it dark? Daunting? No light in sight?

Are you questioning why He has you there? Are you trying to make sense of it? Are you losing heart? Are you ready to give up?

At one point or another (or many), we're all in a valley and it can be so. so. hard. It can be so hard to keep. going. through. it.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

As we look at Psalm 23, it can be comforting. He reminds us that it may be hard, but He's with us in the valley and that we will get through it.

But what if.

What if we looked at the valley differently.

A valley is defined as lowlands (usually in between mountains and along a stream). Sounds like a place where the grass would be growing green.

In Psalm 23, the valley is being walked through by 'sheep' led by the Good Shepard. 'Sheep' walking through the valley in the foot of mountains. 'Sheep' in the valley of green grass. The green grass that feeds them. Unlike the surrounding mountains.

For the sheep, the valley is probably not a bad place to be.

What about for us?

What if we held on to the truth that we are going to come out of the valley well nourished? Fed by Him? Stronger. Healthier. Wiser. Better.

Knowing more about ourselves, our marriage, patience, perseverance, faith, love, hope, goodness, life and Him.

Would it be worth it?

Would the valley still seem daunting or

would the valley be

hope-filled?

Before the Morning

A & I were talking about this song and how it can be so hard to believe even when you know it as truth. Glory is coming though, A. Hang in there!

Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
yeah, yeah,
before the morning,
yeah, yeah

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

BEFORE THE MORNING - JOSH WILSON

Merry Christmas.

I've been terrible at taking pictures of life lately. The last few years I've put together photo albums from our Christmas get togethers and I just realized I have no where close to enough photos for an album- and barely even enough for a blog post. (And what's worse is the ones I have for the post weren't even taken by me!)

But we did celebrate Christmas (of course) and I do want it documented (at the very least in my blog scrapbook). We had round 1 of Christmas two weekends before with my dad's side and 'the Oklahoma cousins' (you also know them as Amy's family). We were so excited to have them over (even Junior the elf found them all the way here and came to visit).

That Saturday, we had Christmas at Hillary's house. Mo & Madd sang carols to us and we tried to get the grandkids with great grandma shot. Not too shabby....

The next weekend we had Christmas at the cabin with R's mom's side. Other than the pictures of R and Colson and the cabin itself (from my 365 blog), I didn't get nearly enough pictures!

Once we were out of school, we headed south. They were still in school on Christmas Eve eve so we were able to get Mo & Madd after school and spend the afternoon with them. We even got there in time for some of Madd's school party. Lucky us. :)

They were shocked at their videos from Santa. Mo decided that Santa must have cameras EVERYWHERE watching EVERYTHING. "Pretty much like God." Umm.... or not. :)

That evening, we went caroling and handed out some goodie bags that Mo and Madd (mostly Mo) put together. We decided that next year we should include earplugs in the goodie bags. (We need to recruit more singers as well!) :)

Mo got to hold a REAL candle at candle light service this year- she was excited to hold a candle for Jesus' Birthday party.

Christmas day we had Christmas at mom's house. I think the kids made out pretty well in the gift department though Mo was worried about her new Baby Alive. Now that she was two she asked, "How am I going to take care of TWO babies???!?" Todd kept us pretty entertained in the dancing department. (Someone got Just Dance 2 for Christmas.)

Here is R&my Christmas photo for the year..... we're beautiful, huh? :)

The following day, we had R's family over for Christmas. It was the perfect laid back, relaxing Christmas to end all of the celebrating on.

Our nephew was on clean up duty....

Dakota is now Mal's buddy. He talked her in to staying and watching a movie with him (his favorite thing to do now is watch tv- we think with the new style now that he can actually see what's going on). We watched Inception. Have you seen it? What do you think of the ending? Is it real?

And that sums up our Christmas celebrating for 2010. It was a great time with family and one of our most stress free Christmases ever. Hope yours was the same!

Love.

Red Velvet Cake Balls

Here's another recipe (again from Amy). I'm including it here because I tried doing a blog search for it and realized I didn't have it. (Yes, I'm treating my blog as an online cookbook that I can always access in case I'm at the store and don't know what to get.... )

Talk To Me: Christmas Goodies

This Week's Talk To Me:

Fill in the blank with a food item: "It wouldn't be Christmas without _______." (recipes welcome!)

Aunt Diana's homemade caramels (this year they were made by Amy!)
I can't think of a Christmas that's gone by without them.
I'm recording the recipe here because I've asked for it (and lost it) about a hundred times.

Aunt Diana's Caramels

2 C white sugar

1 3/4 C white Karo

1 cube butter

2 C whipping cream

Boil sugar, karo, butter and 1 C cream briskly. Add rest of cream. Boil until 246 degrees. Pour into 9x13 inch buttered pan. Let cool. Cut into small squares and wrap in wax paper. May be kept in freezer.

We also have soups (usually oyster, potato, and chili) every Christmas eve and the big meal Christmas day. Sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes are two of the mainstays. Grandma's red, white, and green layered jello is usually there too.

Whatever is at your table this year, hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!!



Next week's:

What's something you're hopeful for in 2011?

The next, next week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

2010 Christmas Card

I had good intentions of getting all of our Christmas cards out by now.... does the thought count? :) So in case you didn't get your card from us (there's a lot of excuses as to why... it might be easier for you to just stop by the house and grab one yourself...), here's our Christmas greeting to you. (I realize it's only slightly better than the year I changed our facebook profile pictures and had people print out their own cards. I apologize!)

Merry Christmas!!!

And for other cards, check out the Card Carousel... I'm guessing most of these cards actually got sent out to all of their list. :)

Oh, Baby

A college classmate just posted this on facebook. Like I said on my 365 today.... how can you listen to Christmas music and not smile? (This counts as Christmas music, right?) :)

Craftasticly Junky

I started my Saturday by updating my facebook status.

(R really does say that about everyday. My facebook picture really is fraggle rock. Yes, I've been informed fraggle rock doesn't count as a cartoon character.)

I ate breakfast with some fabulous women. Since R wasn't around, it was my turn to say the blessing. Yes I say things like "Hey, Jesus" and "craftastic" when I pray. Sometimes I even call him "dude." I don't think He minds.

Breakfast was followed by a morning long meeting with the SUPER CRAFTERS. Yes, they are amazing women. (No, we didn't make the capes for ourselves. Yes, we made better stuff than capes but those are top secret until after Christmas.)

H, Kari, Ashley, Jen

Jaren, Lisa, Anne, Molly

After crafting, J&I went on some Jolly Junking. She's really good about supporting my junk habit. She's patient with me, pushes me on great deals, and holds me back on too crazy ideas.

On the way home, my fairly new tire blew. Yup. I saw the thing flying away through my rear view mirror. Luckily, we were still pretty close to the Junking which is pretty close to our good friends' house. Jaren's husband, Nick (whom we had just been talking about that morning as not being the sweetest guy in the world), came to our rescue. He had us changed and on our way pretty quick. He may not be the sweetest guy in the world, but he'll drop anything to help you out when you need him.

Once we finally made it home, my adorable neighbor girls came over to trade some adorable smiles for some crafting supplies.

We really are blessed by the people that surround us. We have some really great friends. With friends like ours, even a day with a flat tire along the side of the interstate can be the best day.

PS- Craftastic Days are not invitation only. Just let me know if you want to come to the next one! We are planning to do a kid friendly one soon too! It's gonna be sew much fun! ;)