Loving and Celebrating My Boy as He Loves and Celebrates Us.

Two days ago, my oldest son, Blake, graduated from the University of Texas.  

Today he turns 22 years old.  

This tow headed little guy with the wispy, fly away hair now has a full beard and deep voice; 

and he thinks and acts like a man.

At his graduation party, Blake and his fellow graduates turned the party around.  

Instead of celebrating themselves, they threw a party to celebrate 

their friends and family and the blessings they have received from those relationships.  

It was remarkable. 

 They climbed up on the picnic table and gave little speeches of gratitude to all who attended.

Then they ended their time with this prayer.

I'm still teary-eyed thinking about it.   

Thanks, Blake {and all your precious friends} for showing us what it looks like to show gratitude.

Next time we'll be more inclined to pause and realize that we live a blessed life

and we have a loving God and lots of people to thank for it.


{The next little video is kind of silly, but I wanted the grandparents and family who couldn't be there for the ceremony to get a glimpse of it...}

Print Posters with Sound Messages {Free Printable}

Today, I bring to your attention some wonderful graphic posters.  

They may be downloaded free and framed for your inspiration, or used as a 

gift for someone you love.  

Enjoy!

With the intention to usher in a new era of social action art, ReadyMade asked illustrators and designers Nick Dewar, Christopher Silas Neal, Christoph Niemann, Open, and Mike Perry  to conceive and draw out the iconic messages of our day. Find the article and download the prints here.

This one made me think of my Blake, who has taken up bike riding~ EVERYWHERE!  

What a sweet, simple way to get around!

This would be perfect for my tree hugging friends
Matt and Kelly Shook in Austin, Texas. 
They have a cool juice shop and love living "green" 
so the trees can grow.

Kelly Bataglia will LOVE this~ she's a gal who loves locally grown REAL food...

And, well... this one might just be for me {I LOVE to meet new people!},  

or my friend Delisa Yates who has never met a stanger. 

These posters are available for downloading and framing for your pleasure~ enjoy!

Clean Water Celebration~ Thanks for the $40,000, Google!

Be praised, My Lord, through Water; 

she is very useful, and humble, 

and precious, and pure.

-Francis of Assisi

A shout-out to those of you who helped rate businesses on Google hotpot.

After two weeks, over 47,000 ratings were posted on-line, 

which means Google will be writing 

Charity:Water a check for $40,000!

Two weeks ago, I posted about the Students for Clean Water Organization at the University of Texas.  They had partnered with Google hotpot in an effort to raise money to build water wells and proper sanitation at schools in third world countries.  The two week "rate for a cause" ended with a wonderful party hosted by google at Bar 96 in Austin.  I was delighted to attend with my friend Delisa Yates~  Here are a few pictures from the event!

Google brought all kinds of fun stuff to the party~

and food and drinks for a crowd!

The Google staff was delightful and thrilled with the success of the 

first-ever "rate for a cause!"

Me, Blake, Robbie Stewart, Celia (from Google offices in CA), and Delisa

UT Students for Clean Water 

Blake Mankin, President, Students for Clean Water...Yes, I am one proud mama!

Please check out the Charity:Water website and consider loving folks around the world 

by giving them precious, pure drinking water.

Global Love: Clean Water for Kids!

My son, Blake, has been involved with clean water projects 

around the world since he was in high school.  

He is currently leading a club at the University of Texas 

called Students for Clean Water.  

Through a series of remarkable connections, the club has teamed up with Google 

(yes, Google!) and they are doing a two week campaign together.  

  

Each time you rate a restaurant on Google Hotpot, 

Google will donate $1 to their well project.  

They are giving up to $40,000 to the club!

Read about it on the Students for Clean Water website, 

or on the Google blog, or in the paper.

Here is how to do it:

Register Here.

Then go to Google Hotpot and Search a city you want to review.

Restaurants will appear and you can rate them by clicking on the star rating.

Wah Lah!

 Every time you click the star rating you send a dollar to the well project~

Sweet and simple~ and you get to send your love around the world! 

Thanks, Google!