Tis the Season...

I want to take a few minutes to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! This is truly my favorite time of year and before we get all carried away with the gifts and all the hulabaloo I hope you take a minute to remember the reason for the season!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays and have a terrific New Year!

Failed Miserably...

I failed to take pictures of the fantastic Birthday/Christmas crafts I made for 2 of my all time favorite ladies! Oh well... I'll be making more, maybe I'll even remember to snap a pic!

Happy Holidays Teaser...

This is truly my favorite time of year! The Holidays! For me it starts the end of October with Halloween and then goes right through November and Thanksgiving and finally Christmas and New Years! I love that Christmas music started non stop on FM100 November 1st (ok, truth be told I'm pretty sure I heard some of it before Halloween, but who's counting?!?!?! I love it!)

Tomorrow I'm having birthday lunch with some of my favorite women ever, the Warners! And I'm making the most fabulous gifts but I can't show them or someone might see and it will spoil the surprise! I'll take pics tomorrow with the birthday girls and you can see what I made.

I just love finding the perfect gift! My MIL is going to be so happy come Christmas morning! I get such a thrill and crazy excitement out of the waiting and anticipating and I know that Christmas morning will be here way too soon but I still can't wait! It's going to be another great year!

If I don't see you before HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Keep tuned for pics of my fabulous crafts! Now off to hurry and finish them or I'll be showing up to Birthday Lunch empty handed and that's NO GOOD!

Fall and Bubbles (IN THE EYE!)...

Fall is here! We spent the weekend at the cabin and the colors are so pretty! I love wearing fall clothes! I'm pretty excited but a part of me must be sad too, for fall means winter soon and winter means shutting the cabin for the season :( It's funny how quickly we came to LOVE our families little get away up in the mountains behind Midway! I'll miss the place this winter and pray for a short one so we can get back to our pretty moutain get away :)

I've also had the pleasure just recently (Ok, so in the last 6 months or so) to get quite a lovely surprise on my eye ball. 2 actually... They're harmless little cysts and the doctor assures me that the eye drops he's prescribed will likely take care of them, however if they don't work he can numb my eye ball and stick a needle in the cysts to drain them (TO WHICH I SAY "HELL NO! ARE YOU CRAZY!"). They have actually popped on their own more than once and they fill right back up so I don't know what makes this doctor think draining them by sticking a sharp pointy object IN MY EYE BALL is going to cause them to go away, I'm sure they'll just fill right back up again on their own right? Anyway, if they get any worse I've decided a patch is in my future and my wonderful sister-in-law, Kiersti, has agreed to help be Bedazzle the thing IF it comes to that (Likely I'll let the doctor stick that sharp pointy thing in my eye before I wear a patch, although the thought of it being bedazzled certainly is appealing) Here's the pics, I only hope this helps my friend with a stye in her eye feel a bit better ;)

and in case you can't see them here, there's more below for your veiwing pleasure

and keep in mind, I haven't worn makeup because who knows how that will

affect the bubbles on my eye!!!

Please don't find me hideous and run the opposite direction screaming hysterically next time we bump into each other! I promise it's not that noticeable ;)

September 11th

10 years ago 9/11 is somewhat of a blur, just like any other day, except for those few morning hours that are burned into my memory. I clearly remember sitting on my bed early in the morning watching the news, seeing Darrell in the bathroom getting ready for work. I remember the utter shock and disbelief when that first plane went through the WTC tower. I remember telling Darrell what happened and him replying in a serious tone that we've been attacked and this could not be an accident. I remember watching that 2nd plane shoot through the next tower and the revulsion and fear at seeing people hanging out of windows and some even jumping to their deaths. I remember the complete sadness that I felt for those people and their families and also for our country.

Immediately I wanted my hubby to stay home where it was safe, and I wanted our little kindergarten girl, Annie, to stay home from school unaware of the ugliness that was happening to us. Our country was under attack and I wanted her to remain naive and unafraid. But I also knew that wouldn't solve anything, I knew that if we stopped living our lives, stopped being free to live as we're able, then terrorism would win.

(Annie at the Healing Field in Sandy, UT 9/11/2011)

Yesterday for the anniversary of the attacks we went to the Healing Field in Sandy. We've done this several times before but for some reason I was especially touched by the thousands of flags, the new bronze statue "Hope Rising" and the absolute amazing number of people there. I saw a older couple planting the flag of their son, a soldier who died fighting the war on terror. I saw a couple other soldiers in their fatigues shaking the father's hand and hugging the mother. I was also touched at the stories each of the flags told, I only wish I had the time to read through every single flag! The cards attached to the flag have the name, age, location and a little story about each of the victims from the 9/11 attacks. Thinking of the sacrifices others have made for our country continues to bring tears to my eyes. Also, did you know that Sandy City was the first to do the Healing Field? It's inspired 100's of Healing Fields all over the country!

(the new bronze unveiled at Sandy City for the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks)

I'm so blessed to have been born in this country, to have my babies born here, and I am so eternally grateful for all those who died serving our country. I'm also grateful for those unspoken heroes that died not realizing the impact they had, those who went to work or just went about their regular daily routine on 9/11/2001 and had no idea that their death would mean so much to so many.

(Shawna at the Healing Field Sandy, UT 9/11/2011)

I will never forget...

Today I'm missing...

Yesterday I took the kids to Lagoon, I'm pooped! When did I get too old to ride all the rides and run from one to the next never missing a beat? I'm tired and I'm old :S

Today I'm missing the view from our Hawaii condo, the warm tropical breeze, lounging and not having a care in the world! Eating fantastic shave ice which you can't seem to find anywhere else in the world!

(the view from the upstairs bedroom in the condo we stayed at)

(the view from the ocean just around the bend from Hanauma Bay)

(the view from the turn out going up to Diamond Head Crater)

I wanna go back. Now. Instead I'll have to settle for listening to Iz, day dreaming a little, shuffling through my pics of our trip and maybe planning something fun. Soon. At least, hopefully, sooner rather than later!

(Sorry for the quality of pics, taken from my phone)

I need a vacation...

And in a few short days we'll be spending time here...

...we are so excited! Some much needed relaxation is on it's way for the Byers Family! See you when we get back!