Just Because...

Tanner gave me the lilacs for Mother's Day. Seth gave me a dozen pink roses but sadly, I didn't get a picture of them as they didn't last long. Collin made me breakfast in bed. Lacy and her family called me as well as Davin.

Ok, I have to brag on my husband. God was truly saving the best till last! He had flowers delivered to me...just because! What did I do to deserve this man? He is the best friend I have ever had. I thought I would share photos of the flowers with you.

Rules of Life

I thought this was interesting and very true. Bill Gates gave this speech at a graduation:
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 2 : The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time..
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Pics from Mat and Lacy's St. Louis reception

Lacy's wedding dress. The moment you see your daughter in her wedding gown contains so many emotions. I was so proud of her and so very happy for her. She has found her knight in shining armour. We love Mat so much.

Ava, Tim and Mende (Staten) Kemper's daughter had a blast with Leena at the reception. It was so cute when Ava decided she would try the cake before anyone else!

The St. Louis cake.

Random pics

This is 253's sidekick! Leena wanted to try on Grandpa's helmet. For those of you who don't know, 253 is Phil's call number.
Gee...aint I cute? What an angel!


These were taken at Lacy and Mat's reception in St. Louis



Grandma and Grandpa visited Leena's school. Great Grandma Donna went also. We posed with Leena and a doll she likes to play with.

Some helpful information I will try to follow.

I was sent this information and thought it was very true and worthwhile...if only we all would follow it! I thought I would share it with you. I personally like 14, 19, and 24.
40 Tips for Better Life/Good - 2008
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4 When y ou wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6 Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13 Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive pr esent moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree .
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey I'm think'n of ya! =)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

Here is a pic of Marley and Pixie. Marley is Lacy, Mat, and Leena's dog. I know you will enjoy this, Carmen!

Say Cheese!

My niece, Mollie, poses in my grandma's dress. We had a tea party that day, then put the dress on for pictures.