Joleyn Larson Photography & Design

Well birthday number 2 was celebrated. and mom is having to deal with the fact that my kids are growing up faster than i’d like them too. Ryan turned twelve this month so it’s official…another babysitter for mom and dad to count on for date night…yep he can babysit too now.

For his special day,  Dad and I were able to take him out to lunch…to his favorite spot…burger king. After school he had a few friends over for dinner and cake…and then a quick game of football outside…before the wind blew their ball away. Wow the winds blew that week! His dinner was BBQ hamburgers and his cake…chocolate chocolate. Over all it was a fun night…and he was really loved.

man pictures are so not cool anymore….i got what i could…nanna’s and bampa’s.

Just wanted to let you know that the kids and I will be joining thousands on Saturday to participate in the 2009 Bismarck/Mandan Walk Out of the Darkness Community Walk!

By walking in the 2009 Out of the Darkness Community Walks to benefit AFSP, I am asking everyone to help us raise some money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss.

Here is our personal fundraising page link: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=888&participantID=73450

Please pass my link around if you’d like to help.

PS…I personally lost a friend to suicide and it was really one of the harder things to go through in life. I can’t even imagine what the family goes through. Trying to pick up the pieces and then try and put them back together with one “main” piece gone. If you have time stop down at the Capitol Grounds on Saturday. Show some support for those who have lost so much, show them they aren’t alone. Jump in and walk a mile or two. C’mon, it’ll be fun to enjoy the day together.

We enjoyed a nice long weekend with nanna and bampa coming to visit. I don’t think we could have packed anymore in. 4 soccer games saturday morning. TR playing in the bismarck jamboree and Ry and Alex playing normal morning games. Then home to rest up for our yummy dinner out at famous dave’s. love that place…love the desserts even more. Mom and I got a nice walk in around the neighborhood, found some definate possible homes for us. Same location…just bigger and with a view. We got to go to our favorite’s :: steep me, dress barn, and had time to head out to the pumpkin patch with my aunt, uncle and cousin. Monday night…rain…pouring rain…and a soccer game! Go Braves. did i forget anything? always love having them, never seems long enough…but always nice. 

This is one of the best salads yet. So yummy!! So fresh!!

Cheese Tortellni Salad

2-3 packages of cheese tortellni (found in dairy section), boil as directed on package
1 can black olives, sliced
1 can quartered artichoke hearts
1 tiny jar or diced/chopped pimentos
Fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded
Cherry Tomatoes
Seedless Cucumber
Broccoli
Mix together and big bowl, and then add…
2 packages of Good Seasonings Zesty Italian (follow recipe on back but do not double)

What does God think about attitudes? This study uses examples from the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt to how attitudes can affect whether someone stays in the wilderness or enjoys the blessings of the Promised Land. There is hope for the attitudinally challenged. 

Negative attitudes scar our hearts, enslave our spirits, and keep us from experiencing abundant life in Christ. These attitudes are pervasive in the Christian church today and, according to James MacDonald, they thrust children of God into a dry, spiritual wilderness. In his new book, Lord, Change My Attitude … Before It’s Too Late, MacDonald walks readers through how to “put off” five common negative attitudes and “put on” five positive attitudes in their place. Practical instruction will boldly challenge readers to let God transform their attitudes before it’s too late.

In this study, James MacDonald shows how you can lead others (and even yourself) out of attitudes God hates and into those He honors, from:

jut wanted to get the out the soccer schedules for the boys. all three in different leagues this season. if you are in the neighborhood stop by.

tr’s 7th grade schedule :: jr. high mandan braves

Sept. 15 :: 7:00pm (home)

Sept. 17 :: 5:30 (home)

Sept. 19 :: 10 & 1 (bsc bowl tourne)

Sept. 21 :: 5:30 (home)

Sept 25 :: 5:30 (horizon)

Sept 26 :: 2pm (simile)

Oct 2 :: 5:3 (wachter)

ryan’s 6th grade schedule :: black team

saturday games at 10 and 11:15. season ends on october 17th

alex’s 3rd grade schedule :: gold team

saturday games at 11. season ends on october 17th

i swear I look at him now, and all i see is my grampa wambolt. he seems so big. so handsome. 13 years ago, he was my lil’ bean. he was our “tank”.  he wore his blue elmo sweatshirt every where along with his red elmo slippers. he walked around showing people his muscles or where his nose was…or he shook his “booty” to make everyone laugh. {sigh} the stages of mothering have all changed with this guy.  maturity setting in. independence..all he wants. choices he makes will be his own and not mine. yet sometimes he still cares what mom wants. he tugs on my entire being with his compassion, even though he tries so hard to hide it at times. he has a huge heart. he has so much love. he’s so wonderful. i love him to the moon and back.

me and our teenager.

“As you make a habit of not taking anything personally, you won’t need to place your trust in what others do or say.  You will only need to trust yourself to make responsible choices.  You are never responsible for the actions of others; you are only responsible for you.  When you truly understand this, and refuse to take things personally, you can hardly be hurt by the careless comments or actions of others.”

~Don Miguel Ruiz

got to go see reo in concert along with styx and 38 special. great concert…even if i only new 5 of the songs.

jk guys…it was great fun with all the ladies. we even got backstage passes to go hang out with the bands.

It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.—E. E. Cummings

the weather is still sunny and warm in evenings. enough heat to warrant a quick run through the sprinklers.

she’s such a goof ball. entertaining herself and me for a good hour.