Things we do in the car.....

So yesterday I took my Littles with me to run some errands, drop some clothes off to a single mommy and just get out of the house. We were on a 2 lane road, going over an old bridge behind a friggin' STREET SWEEPER - Ms.J from the backseat says "boy these people just don't know how to drive and why is that guy doing that during the day when everybody has somewhere to go?" Giggling at her rather astute observation, I redirected her to the folks kayaking below us on the river and to the 2 other bridges that were on either side of us. We finally pass the street sweeper, pull up to the light and I hear this "MOM! Why is that girl brushing her teeth in the car? You aren't supposed to do that! Where will she spit? Does she have water to rinse her toothbrush off?" Just as I look over at the toothbrushing, Prius driving (tell me you're not surprised by this)20-something she cuts someone off to pull into a gas station - toothbrush sticking straight out of her mouth. I just sighed and said something to the effect of "we can't make choices for other people sweetheart, we just have to hope they know what they're doing" to which her reply is "well I know that what she's doing is DIS-GUS-TING". My thoughts exactly. God I love that girl.

Kindness, Generosity and did I mention an awesome prize?

Ms. Tiffany over at The R Family Diaries (dufus hasn't learned to do the link thing yet, sorry), has posted today about a great little photo printer she's giving away and has a scavenger hunt of sorts set up to really get your Pay-It-Forwardness started up. She asks you to go to 3 incredible ladies blogs to read about them and give them some words of encouragement. I spent about an hour reading their blogs and can I just tell you that I am inspired by all 3. Truly wives and mothers that everyone would be proud to call part of their family. And thank you to Tiffany for introducing me to each of them.
Anywho - check out the contest & scavenger hunt.....it's worth it, you'll learn and be inspired and captivated by these families.

My cup runneth over today.....

Where were you?

I remember that day, 7 years ago, exactly what I was doing when I heard the news that one of the Twin Towers had been hit by a plane. Then the second tower, then the Pentagon, then the plane in PA. It was my best friend's 30th birthday that day and I left her 2 messages....the first to wish her a happy birthday, then I called right back to inquire as to the status of her in-laws (2 of whom worked 3 blocks from the Towers). For the first time in a long time I prayed for strangers and families and for New York City itself. Over the next days, weeks and months I was proud of NYC and how they recovered and took care of each other. I was disheartened by the thieves and scammers, but I truly believed that people were doing more good than bad. A year later, I was sent to the Big Apple on business, at Christmastime no less. I found the most magical Christmas city I'd ever experienced....the lights, the department store windows, the decorations, the SPIRIT that was everywhere in that city. I took a taxi to Ground Zero because I had to, I was scared and emotional and my cab driver handed me tissue through the window. I stood on the sidewalk with said cabbie and he told me what it was like that day and how much he loved his city and every single person in it. He too was proud of New York City and how they moved forward and took care of their own during that horrible time. His twin daughters were conceived the night of 9/11 and they have the most beautiful names....Liberty and Hope. How's that for justice?
I long to take my girls to New York City and show them the most amazing city I've ever been to....I want them to experience all that is good about that glorious city and know that it is rock solid.
God Bless America!

How Much Fun Would This Be?

The gals over at SITS The Secret is in the Sauce: September is SAUCY- Cricut Expressions! have this amazing give-a-way. You can go and enter EVERY SINGLE DAY. What a cool way to get those creative juices flowing, eh? I have seen these little bad boys everywhere and I long to have one to call my own. I can't seem to justify the purchase at the moment as we are currently a single income family, BUT I do have my "when I have a job" list and one of these is on it! Seriously though, how much fun would your next girls night be? Or getting ready for one of your littles birthdays? The possibilities are truly endless and what fun to see all of the other gals that are interested in owning one of these great machines too?

Happy Birthday Ms. J! I can't believe you're 4!!!!

My beautiful daughter Ms.J is 4 today and I simply cannot believe she's growing up so fast. I know that every mom and dad probably feels the same way. I can remember the drive home from the hospital and being shocked that they actually let us take her with us. She is a joy every single day and I'm SO very lucky to be her mom. She is a sweet, funny girl and a wonderful big sister too. She is loving and silly and smarter than I am already. I'm so very proud of her and all that she does (okay, ALMOST all that she does).
We celebrated her birthday over the weekend - we went and painted pottery with her best friend at Color Me Mine and then went and had little mani/pedis done. We had a family dinner, cake, presents and sillyness all around. She is such a joy.
We're off to have a swim day with the cousins, more to come later, I'm sure!

Walk to Cure Diabetes

Diabetes affects my family every minute of every day. My husband and oldest daughter are both diabetics. Ms.J was diagnosed at 22 months while my hubby was in his early 20's. We have done what we can to ensure that Ms.J has as normal a life as you can when your finger is getting poked 4 to 5 times a day and you have to maintain a fairly rigid schedule for eating and bedtimes to make sure that your sugars are stable. It is a challenge that changes with every growth spurt, cold, or traveling experience. A cure is close, but we still need help to get there.
We have put together a Family team, made up of family and friends that will be participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes here in Sacramento on Saturday October 5th, 2008. We welcome anyone that wants to come and join us in walking or if you would like to donate to the JDRF you can do that here: www.jdrf.org - you can find my team by looking me up by name: Adrienne Evans under walkers.
Thank you for reading - on behalf of Ms.J, Wayne and the rest of those affected by diabetes.