Steven Curtis Chapman

I was driving down our beautiful Hwy 41 that connects my small town to the next. Along that Hwy is an electronic billboard that Real Life Ministries has up to advertise functions, service times, etc. As I drove by, the sign flashed STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN and a date... What?! I asked the kids in the car if they saw what the sign said. On my way back, I drove much slower so I could read the entire post about Steven.

He was coming to Post Falls! How cool is that! Steven coming to our small town? I knew right away I wanted to go see him with my little girl and have a girly date night.

Me and Emma ~ She is my Rainbow daughter

Our friend Victoria joined us

Was a wonderful evening and so thankful that Steven honored our small town with his presense. On my wish list - a new, better camera with a better zoom capability.

A very fun junk day

I read about an estate sale on craigslist today, that just so happened, was on the way to another errand I had to run. I am ever-so-happy I went! I only wish I had gone first thing this morning. I walked up and first eyed some old Atlas and Ball canning jars with the wire on the rims. Asked how much he wanted.... .25 cents. Grabbed those all quickly. Found a small red/white enamel potty pot and he again replied .50 cents. At that point I was very happy ummmm freakin excited about the prices and the junk loaded upon the tables. He asked me if I wanted a box... Oh yes! A box would be perfect! The first table was loaded with wonderful little juice glasses... I simply adore the 50's and 60's juice glasses. On the same table were Fire King dishes, loads and loads of them. I dug through the boxes and discovered lots of little treasures.

Got 6 of these dinner plates from Fire King

All these wonderful juice glasses

I can't wait to see these cleaned up... he said they were all stored in the basement

Love these bowls... they are chipped and cracked but I love the textures and colors nonetheless

Some of the jars, bucket and an enamel platter

Enamel lids bowls and pots

Cute glass caddy

I loved this cheese grater. I love to put tea lights in them at christmas. I've never seen one with the "scalloped" graters

Found this very cool lamp, I'm guessing to be from 30's or 40's. My son wants to rewire and restore it.

Love the claw feet

 

Did I come home with chairs... why yes I did :)

My son also bought a very rare slide projector. All piled up.... guess how much I paid. $10.00.  Love those kind of sales :)  I'm going back again tomorrow morning. He's bringing a few more things out and all her clothes. Love vintage cardigans and hoping to find a few.

Thankful for a night together

My brother Len who has just returned from Iraq, came over for dinner last Saturday. My mom and sister drove over from Montana to welcome him home and spend some much needed time with him. As we sat around the table together and ate dinner, all I thought about while staring at his face was how thankful I was that he was home. That he survived the time he served and was here again with his family and we have been given the opportunity to continue to share each other's lives. I love him and am so very proud.

My son Josh turned virtual boxing on his XBOX and he and Len went a few rounds.

Josh played his guitar for us and then Len played a few songs.

Drew played the drums

And he and Len played a few songs together.

We finished the evening watching Michael Jackson's "This is It". It was a great evening with great conversation, much music and awesome memories were made. 

Steve Perry

I grew up listening to Journey. Their music and and lyrics carried me through so many different stages of my life. I still listen to my cd's. His voice is comforting and beautiful and mesmerizing. In my opinion he has the best male voice ever.  I love all of their music.... but this one song... ummm, I'm pretty addicted and captivated.

that voice... those lips...  Steve Perry.... be still my heart.

My second born son turned 15 on September 11

Joshua Michael~ My third blessing, celebrated his 15th birthday yesterday. Each day with him is a blessing and not a moment taken for granted. I have lost two children. Sometimes my head is invaded by a haunting thought. What if I had lost one of my living children that I know and love so deeply. What if Josh wasn't with me, or Drew or Brianna, or my baby girl Emma. I know my life would be so different without one of them. Each of their lives brings me so much joy, love, reasons I live, breath, stay home to care for them. All perfectly balancing my world, my family unit.

Today, we celebrated Joshua's life. I love this boy. Deeply. He has a spirit and force I have never met before. Strong willed, stubborn, witty, scary smart, photographic memory, hilarious and with a desire to become a surgeon. He is the life of the party, the person people gravitate to, and has never left a function, party or gathering without making a new friend. Happy Birthday son. I love you to the moon and back. I enjoy each and every priceless day with you.

Floating the Coeur d' Alene river

We took the kids floating down the CDA river.... It was so fun and peaceful. I haven't done that since I was a kid and enjoyed it so much.

Home!

My brother Len touched ground today in Maine. He is back in the USA after serving a year in Baghdad, Iraq. It was a long, stressful year filled with worry and stress.

Technology sure has changed the way family can stay in touch with their soldiers. Len is in the middle of a war in Baghdad but has the ability to log into Facebook and "status" a hello to us. He would Skype with his wife and kids nightly and had a cell phone to stay in touch.  What an extreme difference from the past... men, husbands and dads would go off to war and you wouldn't hear a thing from them until they showed up at home. Not being able to communicate with them for months on end. I can't imagine that.  We were so priviledged with the technology of today.  How incredible to receive instant digital photos of him. It was like receiving a hug and comforting to know he was ok. 

We are so proud of him.

Welcome home, Sergeant Leonard Newton. Although it will be a few weeks until your feet are back on your own driveway, we are so thankful you are back on American soil.