some highlights and current events....

A few weeks ago, we all ventured down to the Light festival on the canal in Indy. It was hotter than the blazes and there were 10 million people there. Mel was also spending the night with these lovelies. You're a gem, Melanie!

At the Beech Grove shop before hand. We met even more people downtown. Impressive crowd!

Singing Ohhhhh Happiness....Love this adorable, growing too quickly little niece of mine. Nora. 

Snapchat. Need I say more. Mel was snapping funny pics of me in various filters. sheesh.
Do I amuse you? Am I a clown to you?

Got my hair cut and darkened. Can't have the MOG looking all washed out....nope. I'm digging the sunflowers coming outta my head.

So glad I get to live on this earth with these people. So blessed. So emotional.

Lost the baby weight, finally, after 22 years, and now I'm "losing" my baby. So very thankful for this guy, his openness to the Lord and his good taste in girls. He and Joy have many wonderful and exciting years ahead of them. He was my first lil buddy. Miss you already....

The following pics were taken Sunday, 9.4.16 at David's parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party. Pretty fantastic and quite a milestone. Thanking the Lord for their commitment to each other and to Him.

Beautiful bride

The venue was very unique and spacious! Harrison Park Golf House or something along those lines. Here we have Levi, Aunt Sherry and Uncle John.

The table of all of Carl and Judy's familial accomplishments....so very cool!

Natalie is the one who put the whole 50th event together. She did an amazing job and it was all so beautiful and sentimental. Good work, kid! 

Joy and Willow

David represented Carl and Judy's first batch of kids (David, Matt, Amy and Aaron) with a speech. Nathan represented the second batch, though my pic didn't turn out. 

Aaron and Mack...Anna was close by (that's her arm). He is the cutest little thing!

The guestbook idea was fabulous. You get your tiny Instax pic taken and then you stick it on a  scrapbook page with sparkly washi tape and write your sentiments. Very personal, very cool, and Joy and Will will be implementing this same idea at their wedding so get your sentiments together and figure out your pose ahead of time! ;)

The gaggle of single kids..I still need to get a pic of Will and Joy's pic.

Will and Mel got to sing "Overtaken"

David and His former boss from back when I met him in 1992, Larry Whitman. What a couple of guys!!

Ten days, folks.

Just ten days. Will's already moving his stuff out...a natural progression but still bittersweet all the same. I am sincerely so excited for the upcoming festivities and the future of these two precious kids. So honored to have them in my life. Shoot, so honored to have 'em all in my life.

So, I feel like I'm dwelling on the past a little bit...I guess that's totally normal for the mom. I'm also trying to be very present, help when I can and keep my sanity with Levi and Molly (who live to aggravate me, it seems), keep the home fires burning and help out where I can with our family biz. But then I go upstairs to work on a flower girl basket or photo display and I see those baby faces, Joy's included (she was thee cutest little fuzz headed babe), and I crumble a little bit. Wasn't it just David and I planning our wedding, fighting our way thru and making our own family memories?? Just last month...I'm still only 22. Will's age to be. Joy's age...how is this possible??

Ok, soak it up. savor the trying moments, soak up the sweet memories....they do fly by. That Jim Croce song is on repeat in my mind...If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do...is to save every day till eternity passes away, just to spend them with you. If I could make days last forever...if words could make wishes come true, I'd save every day like a treasure and then again, I would spend them with you...but there never seems to be enough time to do the things ya wanna do once you find 'em...I've looked around enough to know...that you're the one I wanna go thru time with....

such a poignant song. Kinda sad....Of course, we wouldn't want days to last forever..that'd get annoying....but I get his thoughts....and he's probably singing to a lady...not his kid...but the same principle applies....I love the people that I'm going thru time with. they ROCK! My kids, though typical at times, are some of the most amazing people that I know.

God is good.

He's just good.

and in 10 days, we get our JOY.

it's not lost on me.

He's in all the details, guys. our first "in-law" is named JOY. (yes, I know it's officially Joylily but follow me....) and if you've met her, you'd love her as much as we do. She's a beautiful and joyful addition to our group. On 9.17.16, I get my Joy kid.

shaking my head....

hope you are doing well....I'm going to go deal with my "little works in progress" and pray that they don't cause me to lose my sanity completely...

Hugs and love to all...

A picture of a picture....swell! David's Mom, Judy and Dad, Carl.

Mel and Willow, who is a total doll baby

thru the years!

Molly and Willow. Willow, apparently, is quite the photo accessory. I mean, Look at her...so cute she is.