Laughing AT MYSELF!

Today is the day.....I am so excited. I have been going through the process for 9 months. In all actuality, it began 35 years ago with an abcessed front tooth, a root canal, an ill fitting crown which did not match as well as it could have, and I knocked into it every time I bit into something. 25 years ago, that very tooth was knocked out when I was accidentally hit in the mouth. 25 years of bridges worked quite well, but have taken their fair share of abuse. When the bridges no longer worked, I chose dental implants.

I had two more front teeth removed for Christmas last year. The song, "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth" took on a whole new meaning for me last year! Since then, I have been pulled, cut, sewn, iced, medicated, scanned, drilled, grafted, implanted, prepped, AND shot MANY TIMES. I now own several titanium rods, AND have even had my papilla lasered!!! Who knew????

At the beginning, I hid my mouth, I tried not to smile so much, and had a hard time eating in front of anyone. As I got more used to this whole process, I began to not only laugh WITH myself, but to laugh AT myself. I believe all of my students have seen my videos, and they have been passed around to some of the teachers as well. My next plan to to post it on YouTube so my students from last year can have a laugh on me as a break from their college studies. I thought I may as well embrace it and enjoy the journey!!! Some of my senior art students thought it would be very funny if I would go into a store, without my teeth and ask an employee, "Could you tell me where the cereal isle is?" The S sound evidently was quite hysterical!!! I learned to make movies on Photo Booth and had a great time making fun of my situation. I have seen the videos over and over and over and can still laugh when I see them! Tara, thank you for always making me laugh! Love you! I will let you know when I have them posted to You Tube! You will most likely NOT want to miss seeing it!

Today I had 5 new shiny porcelain front teeth forever seated in place. I can no longer take out my teeth and cause uproarious laughter to come from all corners of my classroom. I have never been so excited to pick, to floss, to brush, to chew....giving thanks for my team today, all the doctors, nurses, AND all of my cheerleaders. For those of you who know me and see me often...can you imagine me now....talking more, laughing more, and singing more? Amazing!!!



In all things, give thanks! Who knew that included TEETH?
Thank you Dr. Lewison and Dr. Schulte for giving me back my smile!

Happy Birthday Tyler

 In 1986, we welcomed Tyler David to our family.  Mom continued to be outnumbered... Boys, boys boys....but each one added great joy !

Happy Birthday to our second born, Tyler.  You are so full of life and ideas and enthusiasm! I hope your day is filled with wonder and joy and that your year ahead offers even more happiness.
You will soon understand the love of a parent as you welcome your own son into the world.
 

 Brandon first, Marissa nestled safely in the center, and Tyler on the outside.....Looking at the picture below, I would guess that things never change. 

  The love of family...God's Greatest Gift!

I am giving thanks for YOU today Tyler, and for our family. I have been so blessed!  Love you Forever!

I Will Carry You

Honored and humbled. I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful baby boy.

I have these gifts I have been told....I can make, I can draw, I can paint, I can create, I can sing, I can take pictures...but this is a first for me. Something or someone told me, "take your camera along. (I did) You might need it. (I did) You might have the opportunity to use it tonight." (I did)

I asked as gently as I could if that would be something I could do to help this grieving family. They said, "oh, yes, please do", so I did. Honored....Humbled.....

But this photo session was unlike any other in my life ....

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven." ~Matthew 19:14

A stuffed animal here and there, a soft blue blanket, a blue toy, a gift from Grandma for her little grandbaby boy. I am a Grandma too, you know...

Tryston John, so very beautiful and so very loved... It was written on his little folder: "Even though Tryston was so little, he touched so many lives, with his dashing good looks (thanks to dad), the unconditional love he has from his bigger sisters, and from the kicks, punches, hugs, kisses, and the last raspberry blown on mommy's belly.

Triston, in the short time God blessed you to us, mommy and daddy will cherish those moments for the rest of our lives, until the good Lord brings us to you. Even though your sisters were already picking on you, they loved you from the first time they felt you kick. We love you forever..."

"I Will Carry You" ~Selah

There were photographs i wanted to take
Things i wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this? People say that i am brave but i`m not
Truth is i`m barely hanging on
But there`s a greater story
Written long before me
Because he loves you like this

So i will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And i will praise the one who`s chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But i know
That the silence
Has brought me to his voice
And he says

I`ve shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And i will praise the one who`s chosen me
To carry you

No one knows why things like this happen.

No one can guess.

No one can understand.

We can only trust.

We can only wait until that day, our glorious day, when all the pain, all the tears, all the cries will be a thing of the past, and time will be no more.

Tryston John, loved so very, very much but too beautiful for this earth.

Pray with me for Cassie and Lance and Ady and Carsyn and Marissa and Grandma Lisa and all the other friends and relatives who had to say goodbye to this perfectly beautiful little boy far too soon.

Tryston will not walk side by side with his family.

Tryston will not walk hand in hand with his sisters and his parents.

But forever, for always, Tryston will be forever in their hearts.

Abundant Harvest

Galatians 5:22-23

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Dave has retired.  He has earned his rest after many, many years in education.  He now has more time for his newest love.....gardening.  This is the first year he has had time to harvest his abundant crop and he is learning to preserve this abundance for our family to enjoy in the winter. He is learning from others, reading, taking classes on line and talking to lots of people who do this type of thing.  We are very blessed with this harvest and the fact that we will have food and TIME to enjoy this bounty long after the summer sun has gone and winter winds replace the warm autumn days...
Thankful for a COLORFUL and abundant Harvest~

Potatoes~
carrots~

beans~

more beans~

broccoli~
corn~
pickles~
tomatoes~ 
tomato sauce
chili sauce ~
tomato juice~
onions~
beets~
peppers~