Time Out For Women

or Valerie and Hallie go to Pittsburgh.

We left Friday and came back Saturday night. We had lots of fun. We were fed by the Spirit, laughed, and cried. We tried a new eatery and went to two of Hallie's favorite spots. The drive was beautiful down and even with rain on the way back the drive was still amazing. We suggest any woman take a chance to go to Time Out For Women.

Valerie in front of the cool L.L. Bean boot.

It would have been perfect if they carried Plus Sizes, but of course I still spent $$$.

Love the Cheesecake Factory! Had to share with Valerie.

Kris Belcher and Valerie. Kris is an amazing speaker, we can all learn from her.

Hilary Weeks, nothing can get better than sitting so close and hearing her sing.

We donated supplies and with all that was donated we made 203 hygiene kits for a Pittsburgh women's shelter. So cool!

Views from the Conference Center. It really was beautiful and I would love to go visit sometime when I had more time.

Great sandwiches! Thanks Lisa for the tip! A great local helped us find it! Thanks for the hospitality!

Sorry, you did not win, please try again.

Thank you to all who nominated us for the R house giveaway. However we did not win. Your kind words and sentiments mean a great deal to our little family. We are so blessed to call you friends and family.

Winning Is Everything

Or at least it could be in this situation. Please help us win a great contest that Mrs. R is having on her blog. We can't try for ourselves but you can help us win by going to:

http://therhouse.blogspot.com/2010/04/giveaway-ak-studio-design.html

It won't be hard and it is relatively painless.

You have to nominate by tomorrow, Tuesday.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Thank Heavens for Brave Women

In more than one way this video touched me today. I hope you can feel it too.

Mindy Gledhill - Child of Light

Did you ever wonder who you are

do your ever wonder as you stare into the stars

Where you began

And how you got this far

from home?

Have you ever walked along the shore

Have you ever seen the water dancing back and forth

Did you look inside

To see if there was more to life

There’s a dream taking wings

There’s a voice that wants to sing

Even in the deepest darkest night

The Torch is raised to the sky

There are hands that hold it high

You were born to keep it burning bright

You were made to fly you were meant to shine

Child of light

You will never ever stand alone

You were never called to bare your burdens alone

Where there’s fear

Love will take control

And lead you on

There’s a dream taking wings

There’s a voice that wants to sing

Even in the deepest darkest night

The Torch is raised to the sky

There are hands that hold it high

You were born to keep it burning bright

You were made to fly you were meant to shine

Child of light

There’s a dream taking wings

There’s a voice that wants to sing

Even in the deepest darkest night

The Torch is raised to the sky

There are hands that hold it high

You were born to keep it burning bright

You were made to fly you were meant to shine

Child of light

Michigan = Loads of Fun

I joined a Mom's group about 18 months ago. I don't do a ton of things with them because lets face it, I am weird. Right now though we have the coolest Kids Outing Coordinator. Renee has planned the greatest events. This last week we went to Dale and Thomas Popcorn. Mike and I love this place so I think we really went for us and not Landon but it didn't hurt to use him as an excuse this time :) Here are some of the pictures from our fun filled afternoon. It all really started with a most yummy lunch from Noodles and Company . Oh if things were just a tiny closer to our little pad.

On Friday evening we were shopping at Lowe's and saw the sign telling about the activity that was happening at the store today for kids. Mike and Landon went out and had a "GUYS" morning out. The item is a small wooden baseball game and it coincides with the Opening Day of the Tigers Baseball Season. It was electric in Detroit and so we put Landon in the spirit by taking him to Lowe's. We will definitely go back next Saturday to make a garden. Landon was so cute when he walked in the house in his get up I could not get over it. I hope this picture does him justice.

Easter Sunday

There is one advantage to having General Conference so late in the day here out east, especially at Easter. We get to sleep in, have yummy egg soufflé, fruit, and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and this year Landon got to go on an Easter egg hunt provided by the Easter Bunny (er, I mean, our awesome neighbor, Miles)! Spring was out in all her sunny glory here in Michigan. Don't get too jealous. . . .

Later on, we had dinner with the missionaries, and Hallie made a three layer chocolate cake--from scratch, no less--for dessert. Needless to say, between food and candy, the boys were bouncing off the walls before they crashed hard for the night.

This year we tried harder than we have in other years to focus on the religious aspects of the week leading into Easter Sunday. We found a great resource called A Christ-Centered Easter that we used to help us remember our Lord, His Sacrifice, and the hope we have through Him of eternal life. As with Christmas and so many other holidays (holy days), we sometimes get so caught up in the fun that we forget the point we're celebrating: Jesus lives, and through Him, so will we.

Easter Saturday

Here are a few pictures from our Easter Eggstravaganza at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. Landon had an enjoyable time. Except for some cloud cover we had great weather. Tomorrow our neighbor plans on doing a hunt for Landon, so I am sure we will have more pictures.

The line we stood in to get into our event. It went quick.

We then had to follow the bunny prints to where all of the action began.

Here is one of 3 fields sectioned by ages where Landon could gather eggs. Leave it to him to try and hunt twice before the official horn blew.

Landon is combing a llama. He was a little hesitant about touching the animals but was willing to stand in the pen with them.

Here we are standing in line to see the Easter Bunny. Landon doesn't look happy but was willing to do all of the fun things. He just couldn't seem to find his smile.

Our cutie willing to at least try to pose in the beautiful flower field for us, what a sport.

Happy Easter!