I must have done something good!

Yesterday our dear, fun, sweet, crazy, talented and beautiful daughter Lauren turned 25! How can that be? Wasn't she the fun, sweet, crazy, twisted and troubled toddler just a year or so ago?
Oh how I worried about that girl when she was little, she seemed to have her own mind, she definitely saw the world through different eyes and I was almost positive that Heavenly Father forgot to put that filter in her body, you know the one from your mind to your mouth! We never knew what was going to come out of her little mouth! :) Life was never boring with  her that is for sure! How we loved her and how we continue to love her!
She and her husband Nik are still in Rexburg, Idaho. She has graduated, but she is now working there and helping put him through the rest of his schooling. All 4 of our kids went to BYU Idaho, and every time I would go visit them, I wondered how in the world they handled that cold weather? But they not only survived, they seemed to have fun at the same time!


 Our other dear, fun, sweet, talented and beautiful daughter Amy ...made this for Lauren's birthday! She is one talented girl too! And you should meet my daughter in law Krystal... the talent all these girls have is just crazy and wonderful! I feel blessed to just be around all of them!

Like the song from the movie Sound of Music... " somewhere in my youth or childhood ...I must have done something good" to deserve such wonderful kids!

 and Grandkids!

Lauren has been drawing since she was a kid, always creating something. Then she started taking classes in school for Photography and fell in love with that. Her first Photography Business was called THROUGH LAUREN'S EYES! She showed us a world that was even more beautiful when we got to see it again through her eyes!




She did this photo shoot of Angie and Jenny as the Princess and the Pea, she has always loved Fairy Tales!


She loves Christmas and Winter!

She loves the outdoors and camping!
She loves wearing T shirts, especially the ones her brother Brad designs! She actually used to draw and sell her own T shirts when she was young... but that is for another post! :)

She loves all animals, always has!

Even stuffed animals! Every Christmas she would write in her letter to Santa " Please bring me an animal ( a breathing one )!"

 She loves her cousins, her brothers and sister!

And of course her Dad!

She loves to draw and just took up Watercolors...they are amazing!

She likes to sew...

 She especially likes to design and sew costumes for her photo shoots!

She likes to cook and she LOVES PUMPKIN PIE!!!

She likes being a Seattle Native!

She loves married life with her Best Friend!

She loves everything about History and wants to see the world!

And I bet the way your life is going sweet Lauren, that you will! And we will all get to see it too through your eyes and your art work!
Can hardly wait for your next 25 year adventures to begin!
We love you forever Lauren Brooke!

27 years ago today!

Twenty Seven years ago... a 2 year old Brad and a 5 year old Amy and I flew from Huntington, West Virginia... to Seatlle, Washington to meet Jeff. He had moved to Seattle just 2 months earlier. We waited until he found a job before we moved here with him. I remember it was the longest 2 months of our marriage. So grateful that we decided to come here. It truly was one of the best decisons of our lives! We love Seattle and have never looked back. Living here has changed our lives forever!

I think that because we moved here and raised our children here...that all our lives have been changed for the better!
Lee and Lauren were born here... so they are Seattlites!

We love Seattle and have been grateful for that for the last 27 years!

Good Night dear friends!

I see Sunshine in your future!

Since we had the dryest July ever here in Seattle this year, you can imagine that some of us are sorta hoping for some rain. For those who are suffering from the fires, they are praying for the rain. it is all in the perspective isn't it?

I do know that we have a few friends who are going through so really tough times, I only hope that their prayers answered soon and that they can can hold on till times get better. 

Good Night dear friends!

Be Happy Where You Are!

I was born and raised in West Virginia, after Jeff and I were married and already had Amy and Brad, we headed for Seattle. We heard all the rumors about the gray days and the rain, but still when we arrived on the 4th of July weekend to gray skies and rain...we fell in love! We had just left West Virginia with its HOT and HUMID weather and after so many years of that ...we were excited for a different climate all together. We have lived in Seattle now for 25 years and have NEVER looked back!

So does it rain a lot in Seattle? Yes, but still I love it here! I don't mind the gray, to me it just feels cozy in our home and it even makes me want to be more creative! Don't get me wrong, I love the sun but I do realize that in order to live in a beautiful green place like this...you have to have some rain! I do love it here and for that I am grateful. I hear many people complain about it a lot. I hear how it makes them depressed, so I am very thankful that is NOT something I struggle with. Being Happy Where You Are is a big deal, I am just grateful that I can live here, a place where I want to be!

Good night dear friends!

Found the photo here: