Jewel Kade

It's official! I'm Idaho's First

Jewel Kade Stylist!

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Jewel Kade by my aunt, who lives in Alpine, Utah. She took my mom and me to Janet Kinkade's home to purchase jewelry that Janet handmade and sold.

Every now and then I would hit the Internet or call the number on her business card to see when and where I could get my hands on more charms for my collection. I also bought several pieces as gifts for close friends. I know it will sound crazy, (I AM a confessed material mom) but I have made trips to Utah just to purchase this jewelry.

I'm so excited that Janet Kinkade has taken her Jewel Kade line to a new level and it will be available through home parties. If you'd like to host a party, let me know. If you'd like to know how to sell Jewel Kade, let me know. If you just want to come to my house and browse and buy, let me know.

I will be hosting my open house party this week to introduce the pieces and would LOVE you to come! If you'd like to be invited, leave me your email address as a comment, and I'll send the details as soon as I finalize my plans.

In the meantime, check it out at http://www.jewelkade.com/ . (Or click on my link on the right.) Click on the catalog for a full view of all of the pieces. If you are interested in becoming a stylist, please contact me and I'll be happy to assist you!

First Day of School

Abby had her first day of Kindergarten today.

It's official, my baby is a BIG GIRL!

It wasn't as hard as when I put Olivia on that bus.

Probably because Olivia was there for her sister.

Kindergarten...Here She Comes!

She selected her favorite outfit the night before,

and if you know me, this included

matching bows, barrettes, socks, shoes, jewelery, etc.

(Gotta LOVE Gymboree!)

She was all set.

6:15 a.m.

She woke up in a cheerful mood

and before I could get downstairs,

her big sister had helped her get all dressed!

They met me on the stairs with smiles and hugs.

Frankly, I was in shock.

Abby is like me and LOVES to sleep.

This means that she is typically NOT full of cheer at 6:30 in the morning.

However, today she was; thank you very much.

Beauty Takes Time!

Our morning ritual includes getting dressed,

having breakfast, watching Arthur on PBS,

and spending time in "the hair chair."

The picture below shows Abby trying to escape

"the hair chair" without proper curls in her ponies.

For some odd reason Michael cannot seem to take a picture

that isn't a little blurry with my camera. ~ Shrug...oh well. :)

Almost done!

My Favorite Girls:

Because I am a HORRIBLE mother,

and also a teacher who was rushing to my first day as well,

I forgot to take a picture of Olivia on her first day.

Luckily, she is forgiving and posed for this one.

(And a few others on her own.)

Olivia + Abby =

Sisters

Although we live a block from her school, Olivia volunteered to ride the bus with her sister TO schoolto help her transfer to the morning Kindergarten bus, and FROM school to assist her cousin transfer to the bus that would take him home.

Isn't this picture adorable? Bye, bye Baby Girl!

The kids I teach DO NOT react this way when they see that the bus is nearly at their house!

Olivia's face is priceless...

One last warning from her big sister about how to cross the road...

And they were GONE.

I shed a few tears and hurried back in to get ready for school too.

(Side note: I am NOT a fan of the Barbie book bag. However, I am proud to say that I relented and let the free choice of a five year old overcome fashion sense. That is progress for me :)

Nie

Have you ever felt down?

Have you ever felt like giving up?

Have you ever felt insignificant?

Have you ever felt insecure?

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself?

I have.

No one has the "charmed" life.



However, some people go to extraordinary lengths to make each day count.

Have you ever clicked on my Nie Blog button?

You should.

*Meet Nie and Mr. Nielsen.

If you haven't heard Nie's story, you should. A year ago a terrible thing happened to an incredible couple. Click when you have some time to look into her archives, because a year ago this week Stephanie (Nie) and her husband, Christian, were in a horrific plane crash that nearly took their lives and left them both burned and scarred. Christian was burns cover over 30% of his body, and Stephanie's cover nearly 90%.

Before and after the crash her blog has offered an inspiring glimpse of her life.

You should also click on Stephanie's sister's (cjane) blog button. She fills in the gaps over the year for Nie when she was in a coma. You'll have to hit the archives and read from last August, but it's truly a story that needs to be shared.


Once you read Nie's story, you'll want to count your blessings ~ because she does.

*Picture taken from Nie's Archives: http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

August 11, 1994 ~ August 11, 2009

My husband and I celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary yesterday.

One rose for each year...sweet, huh?

It's hard to believe that its been fifteen years. Some days it feels like its only been a small amount of time, others ~ it feels like FOREVER! I don't mean that negatively. Marriage is just like that.

Over the span of fifteen years we've shared firsts, fights, holidays, meals, closet space, and children. We've moved fifteen times and built three homes...and stayed together :). We've suffered loss and grieved, and these times have made our bond stronger. We've endured college, debt, infertility, job loss, and day-to-day struggles. We've enjoyed careers, family, the giggles of two beautiful daughters, and endless blessings.

I am so grateful that Michael chose me. He may not be perfect (although some may argue that he's a saint to put up with me), but he's all mine.

Looking forward to number fifty!

Bloom Where You're Planted

On my way to Lava Hot Springs, I had to pull to the side of the road to take this picture. I was taking in my surroundings and the thought occurred to me that I don't really appreciate the beauty of where I live.

When I was in Europe, I was snapping pictures right and left. I wondered if the Italians living in the Tuscan valley had a true appreciation of the picturesque landscape.

Pot...meet Kettle. :)

Isn't Idaho beautiful?

Flight Rescheduled

Have you ever been at an airport? It's amazing to watch thousands of people gathered together in one building with a common goal. Everyone has somewhere to be. Behind the scenes, it's really mind blowing to try to comprehend the amount of organization, coordination, planning, and manipulating that it takes to run the place. When I was hopping from flight to flight on my way across the ocean, I couldn't help but try to picture how many individuals it took to get me from point A to point B and back again.

Today I had the opportunity to watch my nephew for a few hours. Haizer's baby boy. It seems obvious that he should be here to see his son. Is it wrong to feel a little angry at someone you love and miss so much? Is it selfish to search Tyson's face for traces of his father? Is it too early to sit and show him photos of his daddy in hopes that he'll recognize him? The thoughts race, competing for equal attention.

As I sat in my big comfy chair, snuggled with Tyson this afternoon, I couldn't help but watch him sleep. The rise and fall of his little chest, the soft cheeks rosy from the warmth of sleep, and the tiny smile came and went as he dreamed. I couldn't help but imagine a soft knock on my front door. Upon opening it, I'd find Tyson's daddy on the step with his signature grin, arms outstretched to hold his boy. I'm sure Haizer thinks these thoughts too.

Everyone has burdens that they quietly deal with as the world swims around them in the rush of the daily grind. The thing is, life is constant; it just keeps coming at you. Everyday the sun rises and there are new opportunities for the taking, new hardships brewing, new challenges to face, and the sun sets as we figure out a way to put all of that on hold for a few hours rest before it starts again. I don't think any one's loss is greater, any one's burden heavier, it's all relative. I think that realizing that everyone has highs and lows, successes and failures, losses and gains is beneficial for healing. However, sometimes it's also allowable just to have a pity party and have a good cry. Isn't it?

I am certainly not suggesting that I feel loss more profoundly. It's just that as time passes I realize more and more how many lives are touched by one person. How the absence of one life can truly impact so many others. It reminds me of the airport...how many people does it take to get one individual from point A to point B? It's a math problem without a solution. However, sometimes it only takes one person to cause the careful balance to shift, and everyone else is left picking up the pieces, rescheduling the flights, dealing with the fallout.