half way through 2008

well, we're half way through the year already. can you believe it? in an earlier post, I mentioned "half way" goals- to check in on the goals we did or didn't set at the beginning of 2008 and now want to finish before 2009 arrives. I don't know if I had a complete list (or if I did where it is now), but I've compiled a few good goals to pursue during this half of 2008.
I was inspired by erin's list of 2008 goals, and used her format as a guide. thanks erin!

Personal Goals:
1. Have consistent daily devotions
2. Believe in the good parts of people
3. Exercise daily
4. Get back to my WW goal weight by December 1
5. Walk in a benefit race- registered for breast cancer walk on October 18th
6. Cut out soda

House Goals:
1. CER room re-decorated- paint ceiling, paint walls, blinds, drapes, bedding, rug
2. Complete dining room painting
3. Paint hallway
4. Gather master bedding/ area rug ideas
5. Back Hall- hire painter, uppercase living idea, artwork, pictures
6. Purge SOR desk, closet, books, dresser
7. Re-decorate my creative space- paint walls, paint cabinets, rug, drape, pictures, uppercase
8. Bathroom shutters replaced
9. Glassblock windows in basement
10. Plumbing estimates

Craft/Creative Goals:
1. Scrapbook projects- SOR scrap, Vacation journaling, 39 year project album, All about Me scrap, SOR school days, CER school days
2. Compose a holiday craft gift list
3. Complete holiday gift making or purchasing by December 1st
4. Knit myself something wonderful
5. Learn to crochet
6. Make a freezer paper stenciled t-shirt

Work Goals:
1. Reach $500,000 in career sales
2. Reach 50+ career recruits
3. Maintain 4-6 shows per month
4. Enjoy helping others!
5. Be content with the business and hosts God gives me.

*the goals on the list that have been completed are now in my favorite color-pink! maybe having lots of pink on the list will keep me inspired.

*the goals on the list that are in progress are in blue!

I hope you'll think about the goals that are still on your list and go for it! complete them!

a special prayer

this morning when we got in the car to go to church, it was lightly raining and connor said "dad, can I say a special prayer?" "of course, go ahead" mark said

"dear heavenly father, we pray for mom-mom and pop-pop as they have a safe trip home. that the rain won't stop them. in Jesus name, amen."

my son has the most tender heart. he is the first to ask "are you okay?" "can I help you?" "can we pray for him?" I love this so much! I love that one of his first thoughts was to pray when he saw the rain. a great reminder for me-pray first.

a blessed family weekend

we've had a wonderful weekend with my parents! the weather reports were stacked against us and everything we had planned for the weekend, but our prayers were answered with blessings at every turn!

we started out friday night at spencer's final baseball game. we were rained out wednesday night-a blessing in disguise! mom and dad haven't been able to attend a game all season because of the schedule (monday and wednesday games), their full-time jobs, and the distance that separates us. with this one reschedule, we were all blessed-spencer with grandparents cheering from the sidelines and the team with their final win. spencer played a great game and was brought in as a team "closer" in the final inning. he didn't disappoint! three batters-three outs! we then drove down to a toledo mudhens' baseball game! a double hitter for us! spencer and connor both got new mudhens baseballs!today we had a great summertime saturday! panera breakfast...baseball practice...rained out practice...a new piece of brighton...spedie lunch at home...greenfield village visit...moe's for dinner...relaxing outside...tree trimming...knitting...learning to ride!

we were all relaxing outside tonight, when connor came out of the garage and announced "I want to try this!" that's all it took. mark was up and teaching connor to ride without training wheels! he was determined to learn and when he realized he could actually ride by himself, all he could do was giggle! he probably dove off the bike into the grass a few times just because he was laughing so hard! up and down the block he went, wearing a "path" between our house and the neighbors to the north and south. the only part that needs some additional practice is starting out by himself.

mark was such an encourager and ever patient teacher! what an excellent earthly example of our heavenly Father. for each of us (no matter how young or old we are) has to learn new things, make mistakes, get up and try again, and celebrate successes. our heavenly Father is forever at our side encouraging us to "get up and try again, I'm here to help you." this was the most unplanned event of the weekend and gave us the most unexpected blessing! thanks so much for modeling Christ to your son, mark!

I know you'll want to read mark's version of these events!

work in progress

it's been almost a week since we returned from vacation. summertime activities, knitting, crafting & creating, and my goals (more on these later) have been the focus of my time and energy. this promises to be a long post, like many others, so start to scroll.

summertime activities:
blooms: s.o.r. baseball coming to an end:c.e.r. t-ball just beginning: wip-walkabout throw update:my walkabout throw is progressing s l o w l y.
29- 4 row repeats complete
207 st per row x 116 rows
24,012 sts so far

I've timed myself for the 4 row repeat...one hour! so I have 29 hours invested. what!!?? i'm now obessessed with finishing this throw blanket. while the yarn in this photo looks somewhat grey, it is varigated colors of blue. the finish line is in sight!


wip-thorpe update:

connor's thorpe is complete! unfortunately, I don't crochet. so my part is done...I now have to recruit a friend to do the crocheted border and side strings. until then, I'll keep it in my works in progress. he loved it and immediately put it on. now it's time to begin again with a thorpe for mark, spencer, and carson all for winter time. lisa will probably (again) have to help me begin them.

wip-cowl update:

I started a new project while in florida-my first cowl with cottonease yarn in lake. this again is a blue/grey color. it's fun. thanks for the inspiration leslie!

creating & crafting update:

my creative memoires consultant, Christine, had an all day crop on Saturday. mark graciously said "go"; and I "went" for the afternoon! my task list was full of clean up projects. my finishing included:

1. an 8x8 paper scrapbook for spencer's 11th birthday. I included some of my favorite photos of him and the journaling highlighted all of his special and unique qualities about him that I love.

2. I added my birthday weekend photos and journaling to "the 39 year project" album mark and lisa created for my 40th birthday.

3. I updated spencer's "professional photo album" with his 4th grade individual and class photo.

4. I completed my card club cards, making 15 cards. (keep your eyes closed lisa and beth! :) )

5. I finished adding the photos to our "vacations" scrapbook. mark will complete the updating of that album with the journaling.

phew! lots of scrapbooking! one project not yet seen is in progress. keep watching for it's reveal.

erin inspired me to publish a few 2008 goals-tomorrow we'll be half way through 2008, so there's still time to reach for my goals. those will come later.

florida vacation day 4,5,6,7

florida vacation day 4

sunday, june 15

*Disney Marketplace, Orlando*
well let's get on with this vacation. sunday we all drove over to orlando to visit the disney marketplace. I,especially, had a great time-disney world is one of my favorite destinations. we'll visit one of the parks at christmas this year, so shopping had to due for now.

the disney store:

the leggo store:
the toy store:

a new pin collector is born:
and a round of putt putt:

florida vacation day 5 & 6

monday, june 16 and tuesday, june 17
*pool time*

more and more pool time was enjoyed by all of us!

florida vacation day 7
wednesday, june 18, 2008
*home we go*

we had return tickets, so off we flew to cold michigan! connor finally tuckered out during the last hour of our flight. a great vacation. thanks mom and dad!

florida vacation day 3

saturday, june 14
*homosassa state park*

mom had to work on saturday, so the rest of us went to homosassa state park. wow! wait until you see the photos we took. this park focuses on animals you'd find in the state of florida and each animal was in some way injured and now unable to be released back into the wild. the one exception to this is "lu" the hippo. lu was in the park when it was privately owned before the state took over operation, and he was unable to be relocated. the local citizens petitioned the governor and received state of florida residency for lu. so lu will finish out his days at homossa.

can't see them very well, but these are the boys grandpop gave both of the boys florida gator hats-they wore them our entire vacation.
love this photo-looks ready for teenager stage first stop-feeding time at the manatees

second stop-feeding lu the hippo

this is how lu marks his territory.

spencer enjoyed taking animal photos at every turn-here are just a few.

florida vacation day 2

friday, june 13

*pool time*

mom and dad have a beautiful pool area. how relaxing it was to go out and just sit by the pool. I didn't have to "do" anything...just be. we nicknamed connor mark's "pool buddy", because every time the pool cover was off, those two were in the pool. they created plenty of pool games- beach ball volleyball, diving for sticks (diving sticks of course), water guns, and jumping jumping jumping. you'll see more later.

florida vacation day 1

thursday, june 12
*spencer's a fifth grader* *connor's first flight*

spencer finished school today at noon, and we were off to the airport at 1:00! he completed his fourth grade year with all A's-honor roll-principal's award! you can tell he was in chill mode by the time we reached our gate. connor was chillin in his own way before our flights.

we left for orlando via one stop in baltimore. connor did awesome on his first flights, and southwest airlines treated us like royalty. once pilot Adam met connor, he and spencer were off into the flight deck. they both got to sit in the pilot seats, touch buttons and stear the plane. at the end of this flight, the head steward Victor made a special announcement to the passengers introducing connor and the special meaning of this flight. while connor was embarrassed at the attention, he felt really special. we now have a certificate to remember that day forever.