Blue skies and blue shirts - a great day!

What a gorgeous Carolina day! 70 degrees (or more), sunshine and blue skies! A great day for a walk, specifically The Human Race where our family walked to support Caroline's Promise (an organization that supports orphans through adoptive family assistance, orphan care, and education.) We weren't sure Tessa was going to make it (5K) but she did it!

We hurried home to catch the Mississippi State vs. UNC game and guess what? Believe it or not, Carolina won! Kent's not happy at all about the outcome of this game... and I am sorry the Bulldogs lost in this round, but I'm thrilled to see the Tarheels win! They are looking more like the Tarheel teams we know and ♥!

March Madness, on a smaller scale

Well, the '09-10 basketball season is one that most UNC fans (those Tarheels of which I am proud to be one... most of the time) would love to forget. The team just didn't gel, but I have high hopes for next year. They did make the NIT and played the first game in Carmichael Auditorium, where I used to attend basketball games when I was in college. Where I saw Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins play. Brought back good memories. And they managed to win (even though William & Mary made 14 3-pointers). So now Carolina plays Mississippi State on Saturday. Kent's alma mater... cowbells and all. I'm going to be out-numbered... I do believe the kids will be pulling for MSU with their dad.

To get into the spirit, I decorated for the "big game." I expect Mississippi State to win, but you can be sure I'll be pulling hard for my Tarheels!

So, if you don't have anything to do on Saturday at noon eastern, watch ESPN (or ESPNU) and pull for the Tarheels (okay, you can pull for the Bulldogs if you really want to... I'm just hoping for a good game!) Oh, and I believe the winner of this game will play the winner of the NC State/UAB game - it could be another interesting match-up!

March is marching by...

Wow... March is halfway over... this week, St. Patrick's Day... then a couple more weeks and Seth turns 11... and then Easter. Time truly does "march on by" and I haven't blogged much lately. Or created much. I have been making fabric flower pins using my Big Shot and the SU Folding Flowers die. Here are a few:

I've got all these great intentions to scrap... and yet I don't. I have managed to get my "new" camera out of the box after 10 months and am starting to learn how to use it. Took a few pictures of Tessa this weekend at the Bicentennial Gardens:
The last 2 are very similar to a photo I took of Seth a few years ago in the same spot, also conducting the imaginary orchestra... something they both love to do when we visit this park. Such a small thing that brings them great joy. I'm thankful for these little moments and memories.

Oh, and one last photo of my new Earth shoes (here they are, Sis... are they like yours?)

Trying to walk more and get more exercise. These shoes and my new sneakers (New Balance with good orthodic footbed) should help my feet get healthier while the rest of me tries to do the same! Finally managed to get to 10,000 steps on Saturday (am using my pedometer for some accountability). In fact, it's about time for a walk this morning! The birds are singing and the sunshine is calling my name. I'm so thankful that Spring is just around the corner!

This makes me happy...

♥ Nanny's pie safe ♥

It sat in the bedroom that my sister and I used as "our" room, right beside the kitchen. Just brought this from storage at my dad's now that we have room for it in our dining nook. I plan to keep my most-used craft tools in it. Maybe I'll post a picture of that after I have put things away (right now just my sewing machine and basket are inside).

This pie safe was one of Nanny's favorite pieces of furniture, the one thing she said I should keep from her home. I never knew her to use it for pies, just for storage of things like books and games for us to play, maybe some table linens and pantry extras. It makes me happy to have this reminder of Nanny in my home. I miss her so much. How I wish she could have known Tessa; Nanny died when Seth was 2... oh how she loved him and she would have adored T. She's always in my ♥...

Worry is a waste of imagination...

♥ this quote I read a few minutes ago on one of those church signs by the road:

"Worry is a complete waste of imagination."

(googled it and I think it can be credited to Gary Lockwood)

So true... the Bible tells us not to worry... but we do. Forgive us, Lord, for not obeying you and laying our burdens at your feet. But oh, how human we are and how quickly we forget.

I haven't been crafting much lately. I seem to be in more of a purge mode and for some reason, I can't seem to do both things simulaneously. However, yesterday I went to stamp club and we made some wonderful fabric flower pins (something I've started collecting supplies to make lots of). I ♥ them.

Hmmm, you may be thinking, well that's pretty but where's the stamping? We used the Stampin' Up Flower Folds die to cut the flowers (it works in the Big Shot). But never fear, we stamped too. Made these cards:

Happy ♥ Day! May you find time to spend with your loved ones, may you be free from worry and may you find some time do be creative!

Heated seat... really?

So, our 1st "laugh out loud" at yourself moment for 2010 is this: after getting our van back from being serviced, Kent and I both kept thinking to ourselves, "Wow, why is my back so hot?" when we were driving. We've had our 2002 Odyssey for about 5 years and neither of us realized the driver's seat is HEATED! Once I read the manual and finally located the switch, turned on to "High", the mystery was solved. Just had to laugh about it!

And I've finally crafted this year! Made a birthday banner for a friend. Not great photos (it's been too cold to go outside and take photos til today):


And, while I had my stuff out, I made a new blog banner too... but you probably already saw it :-) Felt good to create!

Hello, 2010!

We've been letting the kids stay up to see the ball drop on New Year's Eve for a couple of years now. Tessa (6) was tired this year, so we decided we'd do our "toast" early. When I mentioned doing our "toast", she said "Can I have 2 pieces 'cause it's really yummy." So Tessa's "toast" was the buttered variety.

Then we all had a more traditional toast to welcome 2010 with "special glasses" and Wink (yes, plain Wink... Kent and I used to love Diet Wink... then they quit making it... so we got the "real thing" last night for New Year's Eve... since we drink ginger ale all the time).

Cheers! And may the new year bring us a renewed spirit of gratitude and a constant state of thankfulness. We are truly blessed.