Corn Maze & Hot Fudge Cake

Tiff's Teen Scene group went to a Corn Maze on Friday night. I didn't take pictures ~ surprise! And Tiffani didn't either as she left her purse in the car. I'll post more as we receive them from friends.



After leaving the maze, we drove to Bob's Big Boy ~ haven't been one in over 20 years at least! Had to have my favorite ~ Hot Fudge Cake...brings back childhood memories and evidentally not just for me! LOL!

Here's a picture at Bob's of her former Girls Bible Study group.
(Karah, Hannah, Tiffani and Sierra)

Brunch at Pelican Hill

OK...I think today concludes my 10-day birthday celebration! LOL!

After church today, we had brunch at the Pelican Hill Grill. It was a gorgeous day and you can see the ocean in the distance of this picture.

Our sweet girl enjoying a laugh and French toast.

Gratitude is
the memory of the heart.

~Jean Baptiste Massieu

What a difference a year makes. Last year around this same time I was in the midst of an incredible health crisis. Today I am thankful to be here and alive and loving & being loved by my family and friends. I am truly blessed.

Sending love and hugs to all of you who share my life in the big ways and the small ways...

Courtesies of a small and trivial character
are the ones which strike deepest
in the grateful and appreciating heart.

~Henry Clay

Special Delivery

Tiffani's new bed arrived today. She chose one that had 2 bookshelves and 2 small drawers in the headboard, as well as 8 drawers around the bottom of the bed. It's a beautiful piece of furniture!

No Eiffel Tower on the wall here, but she has her other Paris pretties displayed.

Birthday at Babe's

I told my hubby that I feel so blessed to have so many friends/sisters with such beautiful hearts. I felt so loved today as I shared time with Yvonne, Leslie, Phyllis, Dani, Bethany and Lyndi. When Lyndi asked where I'd like to go for lunch, the answer had to be Babe's. It's one of a kind and I haven't found anything like it out here yet.

Everyone of these beautiful women brought their daughters (Hannah, Lexi, Chloe, Hannah, Tiffani & Sierra...we're missing Karah in this picture!) to share time together at their own table.



A big THANK YOU for your kindness and thoughtful gifts. I am truly blessed!

Friendship is a treasured gift,

and every time I talk with you I feel as if I'm getting richer and richer.
~ Anonymous

Mystery Flower

We were in for a new floral treat today in the backyard...Enjoy!

And thanks to our Anonymous Commenter, we know the name of this flower...

Wild Iris Dietes grandiflora

Stony Paths

I found a card to send off to a friend today, with a quote from Corrie ten Boom. If you have not read Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place, this is another "must" read. I've read it twice and will certainly read it again. It is a heart-changing and life-changing book.

If God sends us stony paths, He provides strong shoes.
~ Corrie ten Boom


We know that life isn't easy, but we know that if we remain "connected to the Vine," that we need never give into worry.

Traci's Office & Tiffani's Studio

This room is just a beautiful space in which we can be creative...we couldn't have asked for anything better. Fragrant air flows from the open Den windows in the back of the house. We have gorgeous natural light all day long. And plenty of empty floor space allows us to maneuver easily around.

We love our old Lazy-Boy rocker. We bought it when I was pregnant with Tiffani and we've spent many cozy hours rocking in this chair...feeding, reading, bonding, comforting...it's a "perfect fit" for OUR room.


So thankful for all the built-in storage. We haven't even filled it up...yet!

Here's my office space...plenty of room for my desk, files and bookcases. I'm missing a shelf...Tiff needs it in her room for another couple weeks until she gets her new bedroom set.

A close-up look at Tiff's Studio space. Our big glass table is dwarfed in this room...it took up so much space at the last house. So glad it works well here...it's perfect for big projects...like the 1000-piece puzzles we enjoy so much!

The principle goal of education
is to create men who are capable of doing new things,
not simply of repeating what other generations have done -
men who are creative, inventive and discoverers.
~Jean Piaget

Our Home for Awhile...

Entry...




Seating in the Music Room...

THE Staircase...Tiffani's been talking about living in a "house with stairs" since she was a little girl! Here we are. She sees them as fun...I see them as exercise equipment. Hee hee!!

...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
~ Joshua 24:15

Roses and Miss Fannie's Hat

So excited to have 5 rose bushes in the backyard...a far cry from my 40+ bushes, but I've already been fixing them up. Between itty bitty critters munching on their leaves and some long, tangled branches, they were in need of some serious care. They'll be back in shape in no time.

Here are a few blooms...and after the rest blossom, I'll be able to prune them back properly.

I'm so blessed to have been taught to prune from a master...Nana Jo was the sweetest lady you'd ever want to meet and she loved her roses...she loved growing them and giving them. And we rarely saw her without one of her beautiful hats.

Nana Jo always reminded Tiffani & me of Miss Fannie in the children's book, Miss Fannie's Hat ~ author Jan Karon. If you haven't read it, read it! It will bring joy to your heart...just like Nana Jo did to ours until she went home to our heavenly Father about 10 years ago.

Tiffani & her Studio

Tiffani and I are sharing the upstairs "bonus room" with gorgeous light that pours in throughout the day. Here she is...typing away in her "studio." She's all set up with her rolltop storage, sewing machine, and a large glass table that divides our spaces. She loves her "little corner of the world," as she calls it!

Packing and Moving...

Well...our 10 weeks (70 days) were complete on September 1...and we arrived safe and sound to our new home. Big THANK YOU's to Dani, Leslie, and Phyllis who got me where I needed to go as I was car-less in the days leading up to the move. Dani and Leslie for driving me around town for errands...and Phyllis for driving Tiff, Wiggles and me to our new home last night. It was such a blessing not having to worry about a rental car, which as it turned out would not have worked anyway.

Many of you received our first email after our arrival. Wiggles was my biggest concern, but he had an exceptional drive out here. He gave a brief "MEW" every 10 minutes or so to make sure all was fine. I'm sure he was comfortable since he was in his buggy with his favorite blanket and listening to the soothing harp music Tiffani had downloaded on her iPhone.

Empty...


Last dip in the pool...

Full...

Phyllis, Traci, Tiffani & Sierra in the new kitchen...









It's late, but they're playing Jinx!

Westfield Mall Fashion Show

Tiffani and Sierra were in Westfield Mall's 3rd Annual Fashion Show. This was Tiffani's 2nd year and Sierra auditioned this year & was selected. So fun to watch the kids & adults in our community up there on the stage.

Sierra & Tiffani on Rehearsal Night


Makeup


Hair











Tiffani in the mirror while Sierra's hair is styled.


Modeling for Aeropostale

Finale

Sierra, Tiffani & Samandra

All done!
Alexandrea, Sierra & Tiffani