We Made it to Oregon!

The trip has started off with a bang! We've celebrated Brian's 49th birthday, spent the day with Colby and Britney, welcomed all the east coast family and held the rehearsal dinner. I'm a little afraid that we are acclimating to west coast time, which will hurt when we get home. But other than that, we're doing great!

Our Dogs Are Smarter Than We Are!

This is a guest post written by my friend Robin, with whom I happen to agree! The cutie above is my dog, Toby. Unconditional love on a leash.

Okay I am off to bed and am assuming you are just getting your night started - so maybe you'll be just signing on to blog world...
my dog just came up to the desk and looked at me - as soon as he did
I knew he had to go out - and I thought why is it that dogs - who can't speak -are sometimes easier to understand than people who can?
Thought for the night.. I just had to share with the only other person
I know who communicates so well with her dog. :)
Happy writing friend...Robin

I am Proud of My Girl!

Today was Kylie's graduation from highschool. After 11 years of homeschooling, she wasn't the only one rejoicing! I'm proud of her; I'm proud of us. I can't wait to see where this eagle is going to fly.

FPEA Homeschool Convention

Yes, the weekend has arrived. We are at the Florida Parent Educators Association Homeschool Convention once again. This is probably the seventh year in a row we have spent our Memorial Day Weekend here browsing through curriculum and books. Those of you who know me, know that I spend more time browsing the latter than the former!

But this year is different -- oh yes, it is! Kylie Jeanne Saunders is going to put on her cap and gown later this weekend and walk slowly to Pomp and Circumstance. I wish I could walk the aisle with her, because we are all graduating this weekend. I hope not to cry.

Kylie and Lauren Parker were mugging for the camera tonight at Hunter Parker's birthday party. These two have been buddies for 15 years now. Lauren will walk that long aisle with Kylie on Saturday, before heading off to Gordon College for her wilderness training.

This is our living room for the weekend. We have a sweet suite for all the comings and goings.

Tomorrow I will head down to the convention center to browse the resource hall. I may check into one or two of the lectures...or not! And I WILL check into the spa at some point. Stay tuned for gripping updates!

Two people who amaze me

I'd like you to meet Ruth and Marshall Saunders, David's parents. God has blessed me with the best in-laws I could ever have asked for. These two amazing people have always supported everything I do. They love me unconditionally. They drive to see us without complaining, they pray for us constantly, and make me smile.

Not only are they amazing people, but they rock my world because of this: THEY JUST SWITCHED TO MAC! Amazing enough that they are using computers like old hands, but now they've switched platforms and converted to Mac. They like to video chat, they are learning how to make cool faces with photo booth...very cool. Grammy and Papa even have their own facebooks. How many of you can say that about your parents?

Thanks, Grammy and Papa. We love you!

What you do when you miss your friends in Georgia

On the way down to Boca last night (to buy David's mom and dad a new Mac computer!) we were missing all our friends who hang out in Georgia. Since Georgia is synonymous with Waffle House, we detoured off I-95 at Boynton Beach Boulevard and found the Waffle House.


The waiter thought we were kind of weird, taking pictures with the iPhone of things like menus and coffee cups. Cool graphic on the coffee cup, though! Our waiter was tattooed up and down both arms and, as we found out later, on his legs. We had a great discussion with him about the metaphors behind all his tattoos. This guy put a lot of thought into the statements he wanted to make with his body. I enjoyed the conversation...not headed out to get any tattoos, but intrigued at peaking into the thought process behind the choices.

It's Prom Night!!!!

For once there just are no words. But I can see all of Kylie at the same time, somehow. The little princess twirling and the young lady dancing off to her first prom.

Fun new App I found

I found this slideshow program on the net today and gave it a try. What do you think?

Just for SANDY

This is Jillian's room...a work in progress this week! The comforter came from Anthropologie today and she hasn't seen it yet. I think the color is more true in the top picture. She'd die to see her room torn apart like that!

Maybe the Mall

Have you ever thought about how inspiring a mall is? I wandered through the Gardens Mall with my camera today, trying to see things with a visual eye rather than my analytical side. My mind was thinking about how we go to malls trying to reinvent ourselves. Mini Mall Makeovers. There is endless hope in each new store, each display. Around the corner just might be the "thing" that changes our life!

But I got tired of my mind, so I took out my camera and took pictures of colors. Enjoy!



All the windows are sporting Mother's Day displays, which means lots of pretty florals and nice colors. I loved those Coach purses lined up. One of each?
First glance: "Ooh...Tiffany sunglasses. Cool!"
Second glance: "$650??????? And how quickly would I lose them?"


And finally there is this picture from Anthropologie. It's not a great picture, but it ended my camera crusade when I was (im)politely informed that Anthro does not allow photographs. I'm surprised she didn't make me delete it!

John Maxwell Conference in West Palm Beach

I blogged about the conference over at Coffee Shop Journal, but this blog actually handles pictures so much better that I wanted to post them here, too. John Maxwell did a great job speaking today. It felt like a summation of his life's work in many ways. Did you know that he has had 4 books sell over 1,000,000 copies each? Amazing. His latest book, Leadership Gold, sold over 200,000 copies in 4 weeks, a new record even for him.