Delighted in D.C.

Washington DC is an amazing city! It is home to some of the most precious doucments and artifacts of American history. We are here siteseeing and working, later this week we'll attend the Charity Awards International Dinner. Inside the National Archives today we viewed recent history along with ancient history as we viewed the Lawrence F O'Brien Gallery exhibition featuring big records, big events, and big ideas... a very cool exhibit! Shaq's shoe, a bathtub for made for Americas biggest president, an enormous map of the Gettysburg battlefield and the long, long 13-foot scroll of the Articles of Confederation-the first constitution of the United States. We are looking forward to the Charity Awards International Dinner this Friday, an organization it a clip ...take a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgrUujoy9E
All the displays in the National Archives were curious and insightful but mostly I was left with a feeling of awe...to all those who chose to make a difference in their lives just like the Charity Awards Intl organization celebrates with the Awards Dinner. Thank you to all those who came before and paved the way.

Treating Myself

Travel is wonderful and especially so when it involves visiting my awesome sons and thier families but alas as in the old tv show with funny little Tudor Turtle and Mr. Wizard, it was time for this one to come home :)

It feels good to be home, at my own desk sipping my tea and viewing the beautiful Wasatch Mountains from my kitchen. Today I am unpacking, washing, arranging, food shopping, getting my food plan back in order and reconnecting after a summer of business trainings, of family celebrations and travel. OK...I still have a bit more travel next week but for now I am going to kick back, sip my green tea and plan some home spa treatments for myself. I found this terrific Sugar Scrub recipe on AllYou.Com and I'm looking forward to treating myself to some homestyle spa treatments.

Here is the recipe I found on AllYou.Com: Give skin a healthy glow Combine 1/4 cup sugar, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and one teaspoon of honey in a large bowl and stir well. Apply the mixture to clean, damp skin. Using circular motions massage your legs, hands, arms, elbows and other areas where dry skin is a problem. Rinse well with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Last of the Golden Moments of Summer

Summer.... Lazy days, sun in your eyes, looking for that perfect pair of sun glasses. Pool side, splish splashy children, toasty brown bodies learning to swim. Vacations and staycations, drives up north and to the mountains, or anywhere at all, time with our relatives and friends, seems like it all goes by so fast! Before you know it the time is gone and were back to hurry-hurry, busy, fast paced, next task living.

But for now, I'll enjoy the last few lingering days of summer.

Visiting relatives and ancestors

George Clark (1857 - 1923) - Find A Grave Memorial

This summer has been a busy one, and just in the end of July to now I have been to Kansas City, then on to Denver then off to Michigan. Michigan was my birthplace and so of course I am thinking about my relatives and ancestors while here. I'll spend some time visiting old gravesites like this one. Hopefully when I get back home I'll have lots of info to add to my Family's history, so I'll need to access some of thes great resources.http://www.liveroots.com/genealogy/free-resources.html

Summer Fun

What a wonderfully refreshing three weeks our family has spent on the island of Oahu! Each year we join Xango leaders for an amazing event called the Elevation Retreat. The event is a time to relax, unwind and have fun together. We also hear from our Xango corporate team about future plans, new releases, and share with other leaders' successes and business strategies.The time went so fast and before long we were saying goodbye to many of our friends. Many of us have made this an extended time to enjoy with our families as well, thats what we have done. Each year we invite family and friends to join us as we take in the islands many delights.

Turtle Bay on the north shore of the island of Oahu is one of our favorite spots...we have enjoyed our stay immensely! We indulged in luau's and swanky beachside eateries while our days were spent kayaaking, swimming, sunning, snorkeling and more. A high point of this trip was the day we swam with dolphins and sea turtles in the wild...or perhaps it was the day we were lowered down in cages while sharks, lured by bait circled all around the cage!

While here I even found time to stamp a bit. I brought with me some cute island stamps I purchased the last time I visited, my Peerless watercolors and H2O brush. I enjoyed making some quick and easy postcards to send off to friends.

We spent our last days shopping for trinkets in town then snorkeling on our own protected sandy beach just paces from the Villa...it was a perfectly wonderful way to end our stay.

May is Fleeing Away!

What a busy month...so much to do and so much to be thankful for. We start off with the ever tradional May Day celebration. Cinco de Mayo brought yummy foods, bright colors and fiesta! Mothers Day and Memorial Day...so many in between...goodness it has been a party month!

I planted too early this year and a frost nipped the first tomatos, peppers and basil but it finally warmed up and spring planting has gotten underway in earnest. My square foot garden is about half planted and my email is flooded with ads for everblooming iris, compost tumblers, butterfly garden plants, lilys and outdoor offerings of every kind imaginable. My mind has already imagined that perfect spot in my yard where I am planning a secret garden retreat.

I have been busy in the scraproom making spring cards. Here are a few I recently finished.

Celebrating Mothers

The month of May is such a lovely time. It heralds in warmer weather, beautiful flowers, sweet smells and one of the most precious celebrations....Mothers Day.

All around our country, moms are being celebrated in many different ways. Some families celebrated with luncheons, some with flowers and some with tiny hands pressed into plaster proudly given to mommy. For me it was a delightful few moments on the phone with my sons, to hear thier sincere "Happy Mother's Day mom"! and to remember days gone by too! I swell with pride to hear thier plans with thier precious wives and children...I am so happy to see how they celebrate with thier children pouring in to thier spirits respect, honor and love for mommy. I am so thankful to my Lord for my precious family.