Flowers | Childhood Myths

A Lovely Day

May 13, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

I had a delightful day yesterday with my favorite people in the whole world…these guys:

We had brunch where these two will be married this summer:

C and S:

with S’s Mom and Dad:

and her brother and sister (missing one brother)

S and L:

L’s Mom (missing her brother):

This beautiful day included brunch, flowers, wine and very special gifts that only my boys would know that I would LOVE…a weather station to replace a broken one and a very simple bottle of soap with a smell that I love…They always impress me with their caring, loving ways:))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: angels, brothers, families, family fun, family photos, flowers, giving thanks, joyful, joyful holidays, love, parenting, photos, receiving gifts, smile, thank yous

Spring Beauty

May 9, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

What happened to Joyful Thursdays, you say….Yes, I still have many things that bring me joy. But…I have done over a year’s worth of Happiness Tuesdays and over a year’s worth of Joyful Thursdays. So it’s about time for another change…at least in name. Do you have any suggestions for me? Super Sundays…Sunshine Saturdays…What do you think??

Anyway, today we celebrate spring in all its glory. We have had the BEST week…warm and sunny and very much appreciated:))

beautiful tulips...just a short burst of loveliness!

the special green of new leaves

some still waiting for the green, some already there!

almost ready for blooms

blossoms a-blooming:)

just amazing!

if only we could call these lil stinkers wildflowers, I'd welcome them into my lawn!

Have a delightful spring day…make the most of the beauty around you!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, beauty, carpe diem, flowers, giving thanks, goals, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, inspiration, joyful, joyful Thursdays, photos, spring, sunshine

Spring Beauty

April 17, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

We have had strange…or is it typical…Michigan weather this spring. Any temperature, rain, snow, wind, and a little sunshine….as we say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a day!”

I have just a very few green shoots popping up but no flowers yet. So off I go to the store to buy my spring beauties!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, carpe diem, flowers, spring, sunshine

Joyful Thursdays #48

December 20, 2012 By Diane and Chad 1 Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #48

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) working on doing 26 acts of kindness…love it!

#1 & #2 – drug store gift cards left at the pharmacy

#3, 4, & 5 – small box of chocolate to smiling cashiers

#6 – 12 – bought a book for each grade level and dropped them off in classrooms

#13 – Barnes and Noble gift card for media center person to buy books for school

#14 – today when I deliver Meals on Wheels I’m giving each senior a flower also

2) continuing to come up with ideas in the coming weeks to finish out 26 acts…and hopefully continue with more

ideas: gift cards for crossing guards and police at schools, gift cards(or $) stuck to packages of diapers at KMart and Target, buy towels for rescue centers, buy socks and/or mittens for senior center…..do you have any more for me??

3) new sugar cookie recipe was yummy and easier than cutout cookies!!

Keep finding the joy this season…laugh with your kiddies:) Make beautiful memories!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, being involved, carpe diem, children, Christmas, Christmas memories, cooking, education, flowers, giving presents, giving thanks, goals, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, helping, holiday gratitude, improving the world, joyful, joyful holidays, joyful season, joyful Thursdays, kindness, parenting

What a Great Idea

December 18, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Just when I needed it most, I found this beautiful FaceBook page:

26 Acts of Kindness

The premise…so simple…

Do 26 acts of kindness in honor of the 26 taken from us at Sandy Creek:

What might you do as a random act of kindness?

I’d love your ideas as I begin to think of what mine might be:

McDonald’s cards for the police who are providing a presence at our schools this week

Small boxes of candy for pleasant cashiers during this stressful time of year

Leave money at a restaurant where the elderly often eat

Flowers to pass out to people you think could use them

Books for classes of children

I’m trying to find simple things to pass out with a note telling folks why….although…this would be a special thing to be doing all the time!!

hold your 'babies' close no matter how old they are!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: angels, behavior, being involved, flowers, follow-through, giving presents, giving thanks, goals, Grief, helping, improving the world, inspiration, intentions, involve, methods, parenting, smile

Joyful Thursdays #47

December 13, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #47

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) some of my all-time favorite pics:

Love them!

2) a ‘just cuz’ dinner out with the guys and girls

3) my beautiful Mother’s Day orchid that lasted until September and then slowly dropped every single bloom and turned into sticks….is growing again!!! WooHoo…never throw out a ‘dead’ plant works for me:)))

Find the beauty, joy, and happiness around you during this special time of year!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, brothers, carpe diem, children, families, family fun, family photos, flowers, giving thanks, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, inspiration, joyful, joyful season, joyful Thursdays, memories, parenting, photos, smile

In a Sweet Mood

October 13, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Sweet photos that make me sooo happy! Ahhhh, sweet memories!

Looks like we’re good at stopping to smell the flowers, right??

Photographic loveliness….I could (and often have) spend hours looking at old photos!!

Enjoy your memories and hold them close to your heart!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, beauty, brothers, children, families, family photos, flowers, memories, parenting, photos

Complain or Embrace

July 1, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

We all have choices in our lives, don’t we? We can complain and gripe and whine about the negatives in our lives, or we can embrace all that we are given and notice-really notice- the positives.

So today, instead of whining about the heat…I’m going to celebrate the beauty! Want to come with me?

the beauty of the sun...

a summer house for the birds...

the flowers may need a bit more care, but aren't they worth it?

warm summer evenings....bring peace!

Teaching our children to appreciate the good in life starts with believing it ourselves! I hope you do:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, beauty, flowers, giving thanks, improving the world, inspiration, parenting, photos, sunshine

Joyful Thursdays #20

June 7, 2012 By Diane and Chad 1 Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #20

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) finally working on my own quilt…here’s the process, so far

organizing the tshirts and sweatshirts according to color

cutting to the correct size

lots of different kinds

my shirts and F2's also

7 rows like this

each row cut... then pinned into rows for sewing ( not by me )

Both boys have one, so now it’s my turn:)

2) making my first batch of pralines from my mom’s recipe….I used to get them in ‘care packages’ in college and then for many years as extra treats for Christmas…soooo yummy!

3) enjoying some beautiful flowers on my porch…