Christmas Memories

Looking back for a minute...getting ready to re-group for the New Year!

Josh's 30th

a peek at Meg's new house

sugar plum fairy

tasting goodies

sisters

presents

a little inspiration from me =]

Josh and Olivia

Pat and Chris

We had a great Christmas with family! 

Up Date: Behind the scene video

Here is a video of the whole shoot by Darin Warnick

behind the scenes

One Act of Kindness

Darin Warnick Terra Baysinger-Nyce Meg Borders Shannon Boettcher Shannon Watkins Snyder

"I love how one act of kindness turned into a love fest. See Meg's article on what she could offer..."   
This was my post on Facebook this weekend.  I am busting at the seams over one act of kindness that my daughter was determined to share with one needful teenage mom this holiday season.  We were in the middle of everything (Babies in the House for a month)  when one morning a few weeks ago, Megan sat at my kitchen table to read some essays that she was reviewing to pick a candidate for a free senior portrait.  Megan was trying to figure out one small way to give back with her talent for the Christmas season.  She had a contact with The Boys and Girls Club that connected her with the director of a local high school program for teen moms.  She called this lady for a candidate for her gift. The director suggested the girls earn it by writing essays on why they should receive the free senior portrait. By the third essay  Meg was crying...mom listen to this...then we were both crying.  I was very touched but was secretly wondering how on earth my daughter with all that was going on in her life (building and moving into a new house with two little ones) was going to help anybody else at the moment when she was sooo over whelmed with all that was on her plate. 


Next thing I knew she had decided to give all eight applicants a portrait.  She called on her photographer buddies and what ensued this Saturday was sooo heart warming.  Several local news channels picked up the story.  The local beauty academy pitched in and gave the girls free make overs.  Yes the girls lives were touched, so were her fellow photographer friends, and really a whole lot of community took place last Saturday...that started with one act of kindness.  I am humbled by this woman of God...my daughter Meg.


Newscast video  Newscast video II

behind the scene photo's byTerra Baysinger-Nyce 

and the gal she photographed

mom and baby by Meg Borders

Click on the photographers names to see more of this amazing shoot

Avoiding the Crowds

One of the reason I love Christmas is for those fairy princess moments in my loved ones lives 

I may be a little slow on the uptake at times but this year my eyes have seen the light.  Have you heard of Cyber Monday?  Yes I knew some working moms did a lot of Christmas shopping on line.  I have used Amazon quite a bit myself but mostly for book purchases.  I have avoided Black Friday like the plague over the last several years...let's just say I refuse to go that route.  No matter how good my intentions are every year to start my Christmas shopping early...I just never can seem to get my heart into it out of season so to speak. So with my house full to the brim, and no chance to shop I did what millions more must be doing and went on line.  I sat down in front of my computer that  Monday morning and did most of my Christmas shopping from the comfort of my warm cozy home with a great cup of coffee and hit the send button over and over.  I was very surprised to see the same great specials that they were promoting in the papers for Black Friday right at the touch of my finger tips. Some deals even had bidding and time limits on them. Too much pressure for me...as I had already avoided that hoopla on Friday morning.  Through out the following weeks I went back to my computer and just kept buying as the ideas came, and voilà...everything has come delivered right to my door step. No lugging all those packages back and forth. What I can't believe is how long it took me to really get the hang of this on line shopping thing.  I think if you stick with reputable companies like Amazon and such you can't go wrong.  I always get the free shipping.  If anything is wrong, they immediately take care of the problem, very, very good customer service.  I have purchased at least 90% of my Christmas gifts this year on line...and I don't think I will ever force myself again into those crowed malls unless it is for the pure ambiance of it all for a stroll through the hoopla to watch all the other crazies out there while I have a Cinnabon and a cup of coffee or something =]

Now after a wretched bout with the flu bug yesterday, all I am fit to do is start wrapping those packages.  Now if somebody has figured out and easier way to get this part done...let me know?

Happy Holidays my friends!!!

A few updates to my post:

Barbara said:I buy lots through Amazon and always thought it safe but this year was taken by a scam (advertised there) and lost a lot of money. I guess nothing is infallible in this life.


Note: it was not Amazon, but a company that had their advertisement at the bottom of the page.

 A few great ideas for wrapping...recycle those bags and use used calendars...I love that idea Podso!  Why am I saving all those old calendars for anyway...always thought they were too cute to throw out...hmmm

Chinook Winds

                I started this post last Friday, but finally am getting around to posting it...

The temperature is 50 degrees outside and the wind is blowing. Woo hoo !!!  After three weeks of snow and a cold constant blast from the north I am welcoming these warm winds from the south called Chinook. (click here if you are curious about what a Chinook is)  Not only are they melting all the snow but hopefully drying out the mud.  Now perhaps we can get on with the pool.  As is turns out they were able to move my pipes to a more decent location, and I will be able to regain my side yard path way.   Thanks for the prayers and to the power of blogdom.  Apparently my pool guy read my blog, and had mercy on me!!!  I had no idea that he would be reading it.  We became facebook friends and he followed my post back to my blog. So to the power of prayer however God chooses to work it our for good =)  Yeah

I have spent that last two days reclaiming my home, only to realize that in two more weeks they'll
be back...my family that is.  All except Meg, Ty and the girls, whom are now officially moved into their new home.  ( I will get you some pictures of their lovely home soon)  So we won't be busting at the seams this time.  I AM looking forward to the gathering of the clan once again.  I truly do enjoy them all so much!

 Hopefully my sister and I will have some of our more typically quiet moments together this time...a cup of tea and long midnight talks =}

Here are the pictures I promised...our house at Thanksgiving =)

Eden addicted to Aunty Jenna's Iphone

Aunt Jenna and Avey bonding moment

Men carving turkey

Frances (Josh's pup) in time out...poor thing

It turns out he was so anxious to play with the babies that he would get too excited and knock them down...and did I mention he is a bird dog...and we had a visiting bird in the house too...hehe

This really was a family circus moment...but we all survived quite well!

boy enjoying dinner

Avey meeting Lacy, Aunty Christina's bird who we carefully kept hidden from Frances

Yum yum

Exhausted but happy Nana