Mr. Wonderful Turns 50! Quick and Easy Slide Show

Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Mr. Wonderful and I celebrated his birthday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with our precious friends, Ned and Kelley Pauley, back in October.  His real birthday rolled around today and I felt like it might be a bit anti-climatic, so I asked friends and family to send me a quick picture greeting for him.  I dropped them into a slide show, added a couple of songs, and created this super quick visual treat.  He watched in delight as the messages rolled by... goofy, silly, encouraging photos from friends and family.  It was a great way to end this milestone day.  Here is the little video, and if you would like to make one for the one you love, I have posted the directions I sent out below.  Thanks to everyone who sent pictures!

I'm thinking this would be a great way to say other things, too, like:

Welcome to the world, baby!  

Congratulations graduate!  

Get Well Soon!  

You're a great boss!  

Example instructions to friends and family via email and facebook:

Dwight turns 50 on Sunday and I just thought of a fun idea to celebrate him~ Could you help me with a little project?

1. Simply write a message on an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper… tell him something you appreciate about him, or say happy 50th birthday, or draw him a picture, or call him an old guy, say whatever you want to say. Keep it short and simple and write clearly.
2. Take a picture of yourself holding the sign with a smile, or a silly face, or holding pom poms, or with a thumbs up, or bunny ears… you get the idea; be creative!
You can take this picture with your computer or phone or camera~ quality is not important; it's the heart that counts! Simply email or text me your photo.
3. Send me the picture of you, or your family, or you and your spouse. Put whoever you want to in the picture.
4. Last, if you put too much thought into it, you'll never get it done by Saturday morning, so please… just go for it!

You've got 3 days to get this done...… ready, set, GO!!

Obsessed with everything PUMPKIN! Cupcake Recipe

Go HERE to find the recipe to these amazing cupcakes for your fall enjoyment!

I can't wait to try them... they look good enough to DRINK!

GRACE trumps Perfection. A powerful reminder and free printable

  I just returned from Houston, where I attended the funeral of my sweet friend, Cindy Dove.

{Many of you printed her hand print and prayed for her~ thank you.}

It was a bitter-sweet couple of days.  There is a deep ache in my heart for the loss of my friend, combined with a great rejoicing that she is no longer suffering, followed by the reality that life goes on.

As I drop into bed tonight, my suitcase remains unpacked, dishes are piled in the sink, 

sweaty basketball socks cover the floor, and the pile on my desk is growing.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Grace at this moment 

that I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of it.

GRACE not only trumps death. 

GRACE also trumps perfection.

May you rest in the beauty of God's GRACE today.

Find this precious printable HERE.

Halloween Entertainment: Free printables for your party!

Nothing on Earth so beautiful 

as the final haul on Halloween night.  ~Steve Almond

When I was little, we used little plastic pumpkin buckets to gather our treats.  My kids generation got smart and used pillow cases~ they held more and were better for running with.  You can cover a lot of  territory in one night with a pillow case thrown over your shoulder.  

What are your plans for Halloween?  I'll be oohing and aahing over my neighbors little ones, handing out candy and reminiscing about my pirate, princess and clown 

who are now 18, 20 and 21.

 Wonder what it would take to get them to pose in a patch of pumpkins today?

Head on over to Living Locurto for these cute candy bar wrappers for Halloween fun.

Or get these little decorations here.

For lots of party ideas, go see Catch my Party.

Let the Booing Begin!!  Tom Kat studio has made the "booing" easy, 

just add a treat and print!

Download it here.

On Days Like Today, It is good to be thankful.

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you 

who belong to Christ Jesus."

1 Thess. 5:16-18

My heart ached today. 

My sweet Emily needed me, and, according to mapquest, 

she was exactly 249.83 miles away at college and I couldn't reach her.

So...

I thanked God for giving her the opportunity to practice trusting Him.

My lifelong friend, who is really sick, got word today that her body is giving up the fight.  

I felt like my prayers had gone unanswered.

But then...

I thanked God that he was waiting for her, arms out wide, ready to grab her up in His embrace.

My oldest called and is wrestling through some things about his future and his relationships.

I wondered why life has to be so hard sometimes.

and then...

I thanked God for strengthening his "faith muscles."

It may sound noble, that I did all that "thanking" today.

But it only came after I saw this little video posted by Anne Voskamp. 

I need to practice sitting in the thankful chair more often.

God never promised us the absence of trouble, 

but he does promise us the presence of his Grace.

And with that, there is room for thanks in all things.

Lunch on the Prairie: Highlighting Dwell with Dignity

Bloggers and Designers: 

Using time, talent and business to change the world.

Kelley Copeland, of The Hidden List, decided to throw a party for a few of her on-line friends. She invited 35 bloggers to Round Top during Antique Week.   From cyber smiles and hugs to real connections and  face-to-face dialogue, it was a dreamy day; rich in relationships.

Bud Royer, of Royer's Cafe in Roundtop, served up the lunch and pie.  Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic Couture opened up The Prairie, her new bed and breakfast for the event.

I put together a little video for you so you'd feel like you were there~ 

...don’t miss these video highlights:

·     ~ Rachel Ashwell's beauty~ Authentic and lovely in every way, she gave her full attention to her guests... making us all feel loved.

·     ~ Royer's Shrimp and Bacon sandwich~ a combination of sweet and spicy and salty and savory...oh, SO yummy!

·     ~  Dwell with Dignity~ A non-profit organization dedicated to creating beautiful spaces for 

families in poverty to move into; explore their organization at www.dwellwithdignity.org

Steve Jobs: His word legacy...

Living with the End in Mind....

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” ~ Steve Jobs

Begin today by living the life you've been called to live... 

The one that fits your unique design.