MAD for Sudan

Making a Difference in Southern Sudan

 I decided to donate to another MAD Project...

"MAD for Southern Sudan" is working on a project that will help fund and furnish 

an all-girl's boarding school in Southern Sudan by selling more than 1,000 bracelets. 

The children are currently sleeping on the ground.

It is their vision that they can bring hope to the girls at Ayak Anguei Girls’ Primary School in Konbek, Southern Sudan and help to make their dreams of receiving an education a reality. They are partnering with Project Education Sudan, a US 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization, whose mission is to work with community leaders and village elders in Southern Sudan to help them build, staff, train and supply primary and secondary schools, as well as to provide adult education. 100% of the proceeds from Making a Difference (M.A.D.) for Education in Southern Sudan will be donated to 

Ayak Anguei through Project Education Sudan. 

I couldn't resist helping out and ordered four bracelets 

in different shades of pink...

 I think they have already sold over 650 bracelets!

Great job!

She puts a smile on my face!

Some people are born with an infectious personality. Courtney is certainly one of those people! She makes me happy just by being around her. She has the most adorable voice...and it makes her sound happy all the time. And when she laughs...or giggles...you just have to, too! If I am ever in a sad mood...and then she comes over...my  mood goes right out the window as soon as she says "HEL-LO"! Everyone should have a Courtney in their lives. Could you imagine how much better a place the world would be?  I know she brightens my world. She is a sweet and adorable and I am so lucky to have her in my life!

 Courtney and my son Cory have been dating 

on and off for the last couple of years...

(of course I am happier when it is on!!!). 

It's cute because they have been going to 

school together since the first grade...

which is so sweet. And they still like to color, 

do puzzles and play with play dough....

which is probably unusual for most 

twenty-one years olds. And we all share 

a love of her nephew Dylan. Cory even 

likes to babysit him, on his own, 

which is so adorable to watch! 

It shows me what a great dad 

he'll be one day.   

 I was showing Court this blog and she said...
"I want  a TAG!"....so...with that said...
I decided to tag her!
I made her a flower arrangement
that is as bright and sunny like she is!
So....with that said, Courtney...

"TAG YOU'RE IT!!!"

She puts a smile on my son's face!

I decided to tag my son's girlfriend Kaitlin. Because...(as I spelled out in my recent blog on the male domination going on in my house)...it is soooo nice to have girls around. They bring a lightness to our home. There is more laughter...and especially more giggles! Girls just make life....different...special...and I love having them around! And Kaitlin is no exception. She is funny and sweet and adorable and has been dating my youngest son Tanner for almost two years now. I don't know how to describe it...but, they are perfectly matched. They like most of the same things, whether it is the food  they eat, the shows or movies they watch, the things they like to do....even the way they talk. They just seem to get each other...and it's really adorable. It is very sweet and reminds me of the tenderness of young love.  

I wanted Kaitlin to know how special it is to have her around, and how much we enjoy her company. And how "she puts a smile" on Tanner's face...and what mom wouldn't love that? I decided to make her a bouquet, just like I would when they would go to dances in high school. She would want a wristlet to wear...and a bouquet for her room to remember the night. Now that the high school dances are over...I hope she likes this one just as much! So...thanks Kaitlin for sharing yourself with us...I love having you around! And you can see from these photos that Tanner likes it, too!!!

Seems like I've known her FOREVER!!!

We met in the seventh grade!

I have read the email so many times that talks of the seasons of friendship.

You know where it says people come into your lives for a short time for a reason.

Well...Polly came into my life for a reason...and that was to be my friend FOREVER!

We have shared youth, love, marriage, children, The Osmonds, 

and just about everything in between...and I must say gladly and with gusto!

As you can see by our smiles at The Osmond's 50th Anniversary!

She is someone who I know I will be friends with always!

I just hope that every person has someone like this in their lives.

It makes such a difference when someone has known you through it all!

And she is still here! 

She is one of my original twelve that I tagged...

but, those original tags did not tell each person what they meant to me individually!

And I really wanted Polly to know how I treasure her friendship!

I sent Polly some treats and told her that I cherish all the time we have shared...

I really wished she never moved from California to Utah..because this has felt like a long 16 years!

(Thank goodness for email!!!)

But, I am so blessed that we have stayed friends no matter what the distance between us!

Thanks for all the laughs, the love, and the memories...

I couldn't even begin to explain my dear friend!

But...mostly I want you to know I am proud of you!

And proud to call you friend!

I love you girlfriend!!!!

I hope you enjoy your package...and you do know what this means...still...

TAG YOU'RE IT!!!

Sometimes We Just Need Some Girl Time

Teri made some girl time!
She is so lucky because her son brought home a girl she adores!
Krista is a Southern Belle from Georgia and Teri adores her.
You know how us girls...love to have more girls around...
especially sweet ones! 

The only problem with this is...
Krista comes from a family where she has five sisters...
and is used to a lot of female companionship.
Teri thinks that moving into her house...
occupied by her two sons...
(and you know with sons come a bunch of male friends)...
has been a little overwhelming for Krista.
She said she is getting stressed out and tense
from all the testosterone in the house.
Teri has been so busy lately, and I mean on the go A LOT,
that she doesn't feel that she has been able
to give much female support to Krista.
And Teri understands what it's like
to live in a male dominated household,
without much girl time.
So...Teri thought Krista would make a
great candidate for her tagging. 

First, Teri went and got Krista some Vitamin B Complex...
to help with her stress level.
She also got her some pretty lavender nail polish
to feel a little more "girlie".
I think it's so cute that she wanted to help
Krista feel better. 

After living in a house with five men...
and only a female dog Maggie for support...
I know just how Krista was feeling.
I have always lived in a male dominated house,
growing up without sisters, and have just lately
seen what a difference it can make to have
women around more often!
One thing I must say is...
there is definitely a lot of laughter involved!
And since I can relate so well to Krista...
I think this was especially sweet of Teri!
I hope the Vitamin B Complex does the trick....
I might need to get some myself?    

I am so happy Teri has Krista in her life...

she is darling and like I tell my boys...

"don't bring me home any girls I can't keep"!   

I hope Teri and Krista get to keep each other always!     

So Krista...TAG YOU'RE IT!

My Brother Did Good!!!

I seriously LoVe my sister-in-law!!!

Gail is such a special person! I can't even explain how good
my brother did in choosing such a great person to give me as a sister.
She is so thoughtful, sweet and loving to everyone she knows!
We share a love of reading, fun jewelry, shopping and yummy food.

She is amazing and can finish a book in a day.
And since I don't have time to read as often as she does,
she will even read the books I have collected,
and will put post-it notes on them with a review of the book for me.
How sweet is that? 
Especially, since we have the same taste...it's so nice!
Then I when read...I know I will love it!

She called me with a special message when her daughter
got engaged a couple of years ago.
She told me that my niece Emily would probably want me
to help her plan her wedding...
and that she wanted me to know that I wouldn't be
stepping on her toes....and that I had carte-blanche
to help my niece with whatever she needed.
Okay...who does that?
Have you ever heard of a mother of a bride doing that????
NOT!  And let me tell you...we had so much fun!
My niece is the sweetest girl...and is like a daughter to me,
especially since I only have boys.
I was involved in it all...emailed the bride nightly with ideas...
and had a big smile on my face the whole time!
It was great!

I just wanted my sister-in-law Gail to know 

how much I love her...treasure her as a sister...

and think of her as one of my bestest friends. 

She is a wonderful person and I am so happy 

whenever I get to spend time with her! 

So, I tagged her with a funny book for new grandmas...

The Granny Diaries, (my niece just delivered a beauty on April 1st). 

The book gives advice to new grandmas...and had us all laughing...

she read it aloud to us as we waited for the baby 

to come home from the hospital. 

It has been a fun time for us all!

By the way...she is sharing the new baby with me...

just as well as she shares her daughter.   

Gotta love it!

My brother and Gail have invited me to go to DisneyWorld 
with them for my brand new great-niece's first vacation.  
How fun will that be....our new baby will be a real Disney Princess! 
Oh..by the way...I had to include photos of her
because she is so precious!!!

So...thanks for sharing your girls with me...you sure are a treasure Gail...and now...
TAG YOU'RE IT!!!

Only Your Hairdresser Knows For Sure!!!

And here is mine!!! Teri is another of my original twelve taggers. I had planned on re-tagging her, as a little reminder, when I went in for my appointment this week...but, she was ahead of me and was doing her tag already! Way to go Teri! But, I am going to tell you about the re-tag anyway...because I want to tell you about how special she is to me. You know how you just know someone was put into your life for a reason...someone who just gets you completely and understands what you've gone through! Well...for me that is Teri. She and I hit it off right away and she has been doing my hair ever since...and that's been for over twenty years now. She has recently gone through some major life changes...which have made her a new person. She exudes happiness. Not that she wasn't happy before...but, she is just different now. So at peace. One day I was showing her photos I had taken at my niece's wedding in Carmel on the beach...and she wanted a copy of this girl I captured. She said she wanted to paint her. I was like..."What? I didn't know you paint?" So...seriously..how would I not know that in over twenty years....

So, here is the photo I took...

 

And boy she can paint alright!!! Look at the gorgeous painting she made "just for me" that she gave to me at my birthday party. Now how cool is that!!! I love my little girl painting. It reminds me of a beautiful wedding...and a very fun time for our family...and of course of Teri! She painted it for me to remind me to keep dreamin' my little girl dreams......and I love it!

Below you can see it has found a home in my dining room...she is so sweet...and reminds me to dream every single day. I brought Teri some flowers and chocolates and wrote her a message to tell her how special she is to me. I will always cherish this painting! And my friendship with Teri. And thanks again for the painting...it's SO SPECIAL to me!