It's okay...

to tell me you hate my new background. Just trying out something new. Since I don't know how to add a background page myself I thought I would use something easy that I copy and paste. The patchwork and Americana theme is very me, but my blog looks a little crowded now and my photos are getting lost. I'll see if it grows on me.

ETA: 7/3 - Thanks Shelley for your comment! You're just so sweet. I couldn't hang with the busy background and got rid of it. I think I need to figure out how to add a background of my own, one that is nice and subtle so my photos don't get lost.

His name is Jaymun

...and he really needs our prayers. He is two years old and is fighting cancer for the second time in his life. I know this family in a very small way... His mom is part of the workshop group I'm in with Wendy. But I feel very moved to share this with you. If you are interested in reading his story, HERE is the link to his blog. Prepare yourself... It'll break your heart.

Scary

This was the scene about 45 minutes ago:


This car was on fire in the alley behind our apartment building. Just behind the car is the street. To the left is the apartment building directly across from ours. The tree next to that building was lit up, along with the dumpster you see next to it. To the right (which you can't really see) about 12 feet or so is our building. There is plenty of foilage on our side leading up to our bedroom window, exactly opposite of the dumpster, that could have easily lit up.

About 20 minutes ago:


A fire engline lit the scene well. Here they are still hosing it down and getting ready to remove the hood.

To say this was scary is an understatement. We were both up talking in the living room. Daniel had just come out saying he couldn't sleep and I was working. When we first started hearing strange noises we thought people were fighting upstairs. Not that this happens often, but we don't live in Mayberry, that's for sure. Then there was a horn beeping non-stop; just one continuous horn blowing. Then we started hearing pops like gunfire. And yelling. And running around. We still didn't know there was a fire. At that point I knew something was really wrong and felt that we should take cover. Then we started hearing someone yell there was a fire. I immediately said we needed to grab the kids and when Daniel went into the bedroom to grab Ethan he could see the flames outside our window (or at least they appeared to be just outside our window). At that point we headed out the door with the kids, not really knowing what the danger was for us, but knowing we needed to head in the other direction. This whole time we kept hearing pops and explosion sounds. I was almost in a panic, but knew too that we would be safe. It's still not a good feeling thinking that your home could go up in flames. Daniel got the furthest (with Ethan) to investigate where exactly the fire was and what we should be doing. And then shortly after we were told to stay put in our apartment.

The fire department still hadn't arrived on the scene and that's when I joined the group outside for a couple shots of the car in flames. Then went out again once I heard them putting it out. Now I hear a helicopter outside.

And yes, I'm blogging all of this at almost 2:30 in the morning. Crazy scary. I'll never forget the feeling of panic I had when we were scooping up the kids and heading for the door.

We'll see what tomorrow brings. Daniel and I suspect foul play. Yes the gas tank could have exploded. But I have never seen a car parked in that spot before. In front of the garages, yes, but not just off the street in front of the dumpster. Just an odd spot.

Thank goodness no one was hurt. The building next to the fire was fine. I can't imagine how scary that must have been for the people living there.

so soon?

I HAD to get rid of my other banner even though it had my very favorite little "almost" two year old in it. The skin tones were pukey and it was just driving me nuts because they just didn't look that bad on my computer until I saw it on my banner. So away with it! Get another banner little dude! One where mama does your beautiful little face justice. :)

And that's how I feel about that.

I love that new face up there though. :) Makes me very happy.

I truly have a ton to share with you. Soon... Soon.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

behind on photo of the day...

Okay, I see that lots of you check my Photo of the Day blog and I am soooooo sorry I haven't been keeping up. I've at least been taking the pictures so I just need to choose which ones, "make them pretty", and post them. I promise sometime today. Thanks for looking!

Yep, new banner

Tell me what you think. A little different for me. Don't know if I pulled it off or not.

Haven't gone through many of our vacation photos like I had hoped, but I can tell you we didn't go to the mountains today as planned. Sort of a sad face there, but not really. Man, I just didn't feel like it. I was pooped from our little trip - the kids wear us out.

Trying to get a session proofed for a client and this was my little break. But quite possibly this is it for the night, seeing as its after midnight. So goodnight and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Does it have to taste so bad?

Seriously? Does it? Anyone else cringe when they think of this stuff? It takes me right back to my childhood. I remember being sick and hoping that I would be given the orange stuff (Triaminic) and not the red stuff. The orange stuff was so yummy in comparison.

And this is what the doctor recommended I buy for Emma. She only had to take it for a couple days and did pretty well. Hated it, but took it. I was taking it right along next to her and I could barely swallow it down. That is about the worst tasting stuff ever! My face gets all twisted in a knot just trying to get it down.

Poor Ethan has been taking it too. I feel so bad holding him down, giving it to him in small spurts to prevent him from just spitting it all out. It's the kind of medicine that should be swallowed down as quickly as possible.

Anyway, enough about the Robitussin. Just had to vent a bit. Can't wait till we can put it back into the back of the cupboard.

Photo of the Day is back up!

I tried doing this last year, and couldn't keep up. But I love the idea of it. I have never been able to keep up a diary and journaling is always somewhat of a struggle for me when it comes to scrapbooking. Using a daily photo as a quick journaling prompt seems so logical. And I will apologize in advance if I don't make it every day. But I'm excited about trying.

To take a look at my first few posts, you'll find the link to the left under My Websites or click HERE.

On a different subject, I've failed to keep you updated on how my friend Bobbie is doing... She has been out of the hospital for a few weeks now. She is feeling much better, though not at 100%. The doctors still have not found what is wrong so prayers are still very much needed. Thank you.

new banner, new colors & new photos coming too... I promise!

All week I've been wanting to add new photos... And today should have been a good day to do it, but I came down with a bit of a stomach type flu - not terrible terrible, but enough to keep me on the couch without any energy to do otherwise. Just the fact that I can sit on the couch though is something. Haven't done that in a while. Even watched a movie tonight with the eyes that are in the front of my head, opposed to with the eyes that are in the back of my head... Much more enjoyable I have to say. :)

So, yep, new banner up there. Used some of the pics from this year's Christmas card. Trying to get it to be longer across the top, but can't figure out how. So sorry if it doesn't look right.

I will try very hard to post some new pics tomorrow. AFTER we finish up our holiday shopping.

Now I lost my banner

I can't seem to bring up my banner. :( Hubby is so going to roll his eyes at me.

ETA: And found it again! Don't know how I brought it back up, but I must've done something. Thank goodness because I have a lot of proofing to do tonight and this would have bothered me all night.