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rambling….and craft thursday #4

June 21, 2010 Filed in awesome bloggers,crafts & art,no sugar,random

i have an opening for photos this thursday JUNE 24 at 7 PM.
any one want to take it?
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anyone know a cheap(er) way to get photoshop?  (for a Mac)
where did you buy yours?
how much was it? 

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i made julie/heather's salted caramel cupcakes last week.
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i loved them.
like really loooooved them.
i didn't have the candy for the top because i forget everything when i go to the store.
and they were just as good without.
 
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we went to sugar sisters last week.
 

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we heard they may be in financial trouble so we made sure to get there at least one more time.
i had the strawberry babycake.
it was the best cupcake i have had there yet.
yum yum yum.
it will be sad if they have to close….i like it there.

did you guess that my sugar ban is over?
i am all about moderation now.
i proved that i could do with out completely….and it makes me sick now when i have had much at all.
but a taste is good.
let's hope i can keep from becoming a junkie again.
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two of my children went to camp yesterday.
i keep thinking i forgot someone…or i need to pick someone up.
this week should be a breeze having only three to keep tabs on.

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at the Y last week i was jogging on the track.
my iPod was on (with my rap music) at the highest volume….just the way i like it.
two ladies were walking and talking together on the track ahead of me.
i thought "i wish i was talking with my friends" as i came up on them.
they turned to me as i was passing them and smiled and said "we love your blog" 
at least that is what i think they said because my headphones were blasting.
ha!

ladies….you made my day.
🙂
the rest of my run was like i floating.
thanks.

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this is the house i grew up in.
it was a lighter yellow back then…not quite so bright.
there used to be a porch swing on the right side of the porch.
craig and i sat out there for hours.
talking.

yeah…that's it….talking.

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craft thursday…done on a friday…posted on a monday.

we choose another project from deep space sparkle.


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we made tissue paper dragons.
it was difficult to change the mindset to having a perfect dragon to a free form dragon.
i kept saying "just tear and then find a way to make that shape work somewhere."
and the mantra of "it doesn't have to be perfect…it's ART"

sean disagreed.
he would have preferred to use scissors. 
but talby and annie could "see" the dragon in the shapes.

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i used watered down glue and our watercolor paint brushes.
our projects are almost always done on mediumweight Sketch Pad paper…found at walmart.

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when we were done i outlined them in sharpie and cut them out to hang up.
 
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talby

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sean

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annie

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mine

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another successful craft thursday.
yay!
         
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on saturday morning my friend kerry had a baby girl.
and i got to photograph her birth.
it was amazing and emotional and extremely humbling to be there.
i love her family so much.

her sweet baby Kyler is in the NICU now.
will you pray for them?
God hears every prayer.
He has a plan for them and He is in control.
i am sure of that.
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add a comment

webcams - I will definitely visit your site more often cause I like your ideas and the information you post. free les chat live chat adult finder free free chat

Lori - A prayer for sweet Kyler-done.

crystal - Those Dragons rock! I love your Blog too!!!!

Robyn - i love this craft! so cute. i may try something similar but maybe with fish or birds.
i hope your friends baby i ok. my godson has been in and out of the nicu for a long time and its SO scary. life changing. and prayers have helped him come a long way. he has a long road still but the prayers have helped him come out of the woods!
so im adding your friends baby girl to my prayer list!

Whitney - I would suggest that you get one of the creative suites… I got Elements and was a little bored with it. I got it while I was in college and got a huge discount! Try to find someone in college who could use their ID for you! I have all of my old Id’s… I’ll just mail you a copy! 🙂
As for the sugar, I have been trying to avoid it too. I went 12 days and then had to have flourless chocolate cake-it was worth it, but also too sweet. I have been reading a book called “Potatoes Not Prozac”- it’s all about people who are sugar sensitive- very interesting and fit me to a t! I highly recommend it!
Just like the ladies walking on the track, I love your blog too!

Rachel / cREaTe - soooooooooo CUTE! LOVE that project!!!!! 🙂 and love that sean always crafts with goggles around his neck. ha!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - Chloe got the swimsuit! And lives in it.
Financial trouble?! How can that be?! Poor Sugar Sisters 🙁

Lisa - I use PhotoShop all the time both at work and home. I always purchase my software from AcademicSuperstore.com Great prices for teachers and students! Hope this helps.

Gina - You can get the student version of photoshop because you have a student. You’ll need her to go with you and have her ID. It’s the same thing but WAY cheaper. We have it on our computer and it works fine. Not that I’d know because I have no clue how to use it…but my husband says it’s great…
If I could drive there Thursday night from Chicago, I’d take that appointment in a heartbeat. I’ll keep dreaming…

Emily B. - That was my friend Jodi and I at the Y! And we DID say that we love your blog! We were both so excited to see you. We realized that you might not have heard us and that it might have just looked like we were smiling and clapping at you as you went by! It made us laugh so hard that I let out a really loud and spastic laugh that echoed in the gym… what a goof. 🙂
I’m so glad it made your day! It made ours to see you!

kristine - sweet art!
will pray for kyler and fam. xo

Rachel - Definitely check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com/. The prices are significantly better and it’s totally legit. I use both LR and PS for editing. The workflow in LR is amazing and it’s really easy to bulk edit a bunch of pictures. Scott Kelby’s Lightroom 2 book really helped me to figure it out how to use it to it’s full potential. You can do way more with PS in terms of editing (ie. layers, masks, more brushes, tools etc). I find myself using PS more when I’m editing for clients or when I want to print something larger for myself. It’s still over my head though so I’m planning to take a PS course for photographers in the fall so I can get the most out of it.

Laura - What a lovely post. God is always in control! Isn’t it great!? I will be praying.

Courtney Walsh - I love those dragons!! How adorable! 🙂
…and I’ve always dreamed of a butter yellow house. Maybe someday…:) I’ll make sure if I have a porch swing talking is the ONLY thing done on it! hahahaha.

se7en - Those dragons are darling!!!

Laura - I bought Adobe Photoshop Elements from Amazon.com for $80-something. Adobe was having a $20 rebate (which happens occasionally). So, I got it for $60-something. I have worked on both and find Elements does exactly what I need – at a fraction of the price. I was thrilled to get such a great deal!
Good luck with your shopping!
Laura

shelly @familyblt - Great post today. I want photoshop too! I couldn’t justlfy it yet though. I want a cupcake now too. yum

tinycandi - I used the free trial of PS…but I wasn’t impressed enough to switch over from Paint Shop Pro. I have PSP Photo XI and absolutely love it. There are so many things I can do with just a click of a mouse. It’s so much more user friendly than PS. I am hoping to upgrade soon now that X3 is out. It’s so much cheaper than PS.

teresa - tell the kids i give their dragons two thumbs up! very nice!

tasha roe - bought mine with my student discount through journeyed.com huge savings!

Michelle - NOOOOO! Sugar Sister’s can’t close. That would make me so sad. I need to get there this week!

Shannon - Lots of memories in that big yellow house! I loved that house

Marie Tere - I just got the PS — $89 with $20 off, $69 wasn’t so bad.
Prayers to baby Kyler.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Praying for baby Kyler… please keep us updated. Thanks!

Georgia - Meg, the house you grew up in is like a dolls house!!!
Thats my dream house!!! lol
UK houses are not so picturesque as the usa. damn its unfair lol
Happy Monday!!!

jennifer - Love the photos of the cupcake shop. It looks adorable! And those dragons looks like a fun project too!
We’ve got an unused copy of PS Elements that I’d gladly barter, or just give you. 🙂 Let me just make sure I can find it! Let me know if you’re interested…

Lisa Currie-Gurney - IF WE LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, WE’D BE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS. YOU KNOW, THE KIND THAT WALKS IN WITHOUT KNOCKING. GRABS COFFEE FROM THE POT WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE OFFERED. TAKES THE KIDS SWIMMING FOR THE AFTERNOON.
YEAH… THAT WOULD BE US.
HUGS FROM MAINE

KK - Those are adorable dragons! I love each of them. It is amazing how, even though people work on the same project, they all come up with their own interpretation.
I will pray for Kyler and your friend! 🙂
Have a good day!

Patty - The dragons are wonderful. Again, I impressed with how you organize your days…not easy wrangling kids to do an art project on a hot, summer day. Tell Sean that I thought his dragon was very precise, despite the fact that no scissors were used!

Nicole Q. - Love all your random thoughts . . . I think I’ll have to do the dragon craft with my boys. Looks like a fun one! Have a good with a few less kiddos.

Vera - That dragon craft is AWESOME! We are so going to do that. Will pray for your friend’s baby!

patti - what a great craft! I’m going to look at that site now to get some ideas for my kids too. i know i’ve said it before, but i’m sure it’s nice to hear: thanks so much for sharing these everyday looks into your life. i really appreciate it!
cheers to a great week!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - I love the dragons. Super cute. Will def pray for Kyle!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Kirsten - Megan, you continue to inspire and amaze, even with photos of cupcakes! Prayers and hugs for your friends and sweet new little Kyler.
And I’m jealous that your kids get to wear swimsuits – we had a softball tournament get rained out this weekend…

Amber - i don’t see where anyone has mentioned this yet…but have you ever looked at http://www.academicsuperstore.com ? i believe ps is about half price there. i haven’t actually purchased from them…but if i were to make THE splurge…i would probably go w/ them. you are supposed to meet the qualifications…but i’m sure you could order via your children’s student i.d.

susie whyte - love the dragons, love the house, love everything. 🙂
sugar sisters was broken into. my husband had to interview one of the owners after the incident. they got a little over $240. if they’re in financial crisis, it’s cause they charge $2.50 a cupcake!! 🙂 haha. if they have to close, i will be so sad. maybe they’ll have to sell their plates. i want their plates so bad. the ones with the metal rims. and the blue melmac flower plates. haha!!

tara pollard pakosta - gorgeous dragons!
we are going to have to make those!
super CUTE!
praying for the sweet baby kyler–
God will hear us all….
bless your sweet blog, it’s amazing.
tara

Amber Zimmerman - Love the craft thursdays (and fridays) posts. 🙂 I’m glad you mentioned the paper you use too. As for photoshop – I have a student version which is much cheaper. It is the same thing, just cheaper for students. I’m not sure if you could ask a student to purchase for you at a local college (someone you know?) or if that is frowned upon? Worth a check at least! 🙂
Prayers for baby Kyler!

AshleyAnn - Those are gorgeous! I am looking forward to the days my kids can do projects like that…one down 3 to go…

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Great craft. Those kids are GOOD.
I had someone recognize me at the gym the other day too. It was really surreal. I felt famous…so I get it. I think I had a goofy grin on my face the rest of the day:)
That house you grew up in was just adorable. I was just thinking the other night how I missed the days when Honey and I would just “talk” for what seemed like hours. Oh to be a youngin’ again.

Juli - Kyler and his family will be on my prayer list.
I adore those dragons and I love your childhood home. Why in the world would anyone take down a porch swing? My hubby’s HS/College yrs were in 1930’s bungalow with a front porch swing. He & I sat and “talked” plenty there. I would swing my niece, while singing her “Edelweiss” as a tiny infant on that swing, when I came home from college. That tiny “baby” got engaged this weekend!

Julie K. - Hey Megan! I LOVE your dragons. So cute.
I use Lightroom for 95% of my work and then Photoshop Elements for any detail work on occasion. It’s so much easier to navigate. The combo of the two are just perfect. But I really really LOVE Lightroom. Just my two cents.
xo ~julie

Tam - The cupcakes look devine! I would like one for breakfast! I also want to purchase PS, i’m thinking Elements is more my speed though. The dragons are wicked cool.

mom - I use PS Elements too at work. I went to a PS workshop and the elements are easier to understand. But you are the professional! It might be good to enroll in a class after you purchase it – it really did help.

Bec - I use full blown photoshop to edit my pictures and honestly, it took me almost 3 years to really come to terms with it and truly start using it to it’s potential. I still have a whole lot to learn, but I’m getting there. I would highly suggest, if you are only going to use it for photo editing, getting photoshop elements. The same controls as photoshop but not overwhelming. I wish I would have gone that route to start with.

Melanie - The cupcakes look delish. I sure whis I had one:)

Patty - Thank you for the mention of the paper you use for Craft Thursdays. Prayers for baby Kyler. Happy day to you.

Christy - Awesome dragons! The house where you grew up is so cute!

katie - i made those cupcakes too…. HEAVEN!!!

Jill - LOVE those dragons! Great work, kids! (and Meg!)

A pocket full of posies... - Covering baby Kyler with many, many prayers!!! (and new mommy and daddy too!)
Many Blessings!
Jill

Amy Cygan - I have lightroom. Really easy learning curve and can export to photoshop if more editing needs to be done. It does a lot. It’s inbetween elements and photoshop as far as what it can do.
I got mine through acedemic superstore. If have to fax/email student report card/ proof of student, and you’ll get a great price. I’ve ordered several times from there. Think about Adobe lightroom. e-mail me if you got questions really. Amy paris626@earthlink.net
I have a dslr and been using lightroom since it’s first version. I do have CS3 but hardly use it.

kat - said a prayer for your friend 🙂
the dragons are cute !

Michelle - The dragons are awesome! Those cupcakes are on my list to make… I just need an occasion.

the road less traveled - two words for your photoshop question…
e bay.
🙂
love the tissue dragons.
and your childhood home~ lovely.

Kimberlee J. - We hit sugar sisters this weekend too. They made Ella’s birthday cupcakes. 🙂

Jodi - Yes, the best way to purchase PS for a MAC is to buy the student version at the Apple Store. Take in your high school daughter, have her show her student ID, and voila, it’s yours for a fraction of the cost. Whoops…hope I don’t get in trouble for telling you that. Mine is a bootleg from a friend of a friend. I LOVE it.
The dragon tissue project is perfect!

Sally Mangham - In regards to photoshop! Have you considered Photoshop Elements? I have been asking a dear friend of mine who runs a tech/imagining business and he suggested that I look at Photoshop Elments because he said if you haven’t ever learned Photoshop it’s a great start with the same editing advantage. Also, I recently discovered an online wk shop — http://everydayelementsonline.com/ . I purchased mine at Fry’s Electronics.
If you decided that you have enough experience and are ready to purchase Photoshop here is a great link http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/80-best-photoshop-text-effects-tutorials-part-iii/
Good luck! Sally M.

Gemma - Hi Meg,
Those cupcakes look yummy! Might have to give them a try. Loved your craft Thrusday/Friday.
Gemma X
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Kevyn - I made those same cupcakes from Julie’s blog- for my husband for part of his father’s day. HE LOVED THEM. He is not a cupcake person but thought these were awesome. Love your blog! 🙂

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random

June 10, 2010 Filed in random

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"CANNING BALL!" that is what she always shouts as she jumps in.

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i took my kids shopping for patio furniture.  
it was not fun.
but the escalators always are.
 

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my new favorite magazine is Canadian House and Home….i wish the subscription wasn't $57!!!
 
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i got stuck in a storm the other day while driving.     
i had to pull over.  
there were 6 other cars pulled over too….
i was talking to myself saying "don't cry.  it is ok. there will not be a tornado…you won't have to find cover for you and all your children alone….you won't."  
repeat.

and thankfully i was fine.  
 
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new shirt.
i let her pick some clothes out for herself and she said "i never knew shopping could be so fun?!"

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my cousin Sam, uncle Roy and my grandmother came over on tuesday.
sam and roy live in australia.
we don't see them often.
craig took the men to golf and 8 holes in they were caught in a downpour of rain.
soaking wet.
and so we all dinner together instead.  
in dry clothes.
yay.

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grocery shopping.
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lauren bought my old camera from me.
she loves photography.
🙂

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annie said "i was pretending my foot was bleeding"  


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my mini-me.
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he is a thirsty dog. 

and that is the end of my randomness.
have a nice thursday evening.
it's 4:00….still time for a craft.  

add a comment

Lisa Murphy - So glad that you love Canadian House & Home magazine! (Love that rainbow cake, too!) Thanks for the shout out. Not sure if you’ve tried the digital edition for $25? Here’s the web address, subscribe on left. http://www.houseandhome-digital.com/houseandhome/201007sample#pg1
Many thanks, Lisa Murphy

Tanya H - So, I pulled up your blog to show my kids the castle paintings so they could try something like it. My daughter that is Annie’s age in school (if not for real) saw Annie doing her cannon ball… “Do I know that girl?” No, she lives far away from us. “Well I should know her. I think I like her.” 🙂

alison - What an amazing cake and I love the picture of the dog drinking from the birdbath!

Jen H. - You’re probably better off just buying each issue of Canadian House & Home as you see them on the newsstand?? Not sure what the price-per-issue is in the US though.
I agree it is an awesome magazine. I am biased though, as I used to work there. I now write for them, though not as often as I used to. If you see articles written by Jennifer*Hughes, that is me. 🙂 You’ll find me much more in older issues though.
Love your blog! 🙂

crystal - I can’t remember how I discovered your blog, but your rainbow cake was how I got here in the first place. I wrote a note to myself about it to remember to make it for my daughters birthday (which I did). I didn’t add as much color to mine (I was afraid it would affect the taste), so it was much lighter, but there were so many oooh’s and ahhh’s when the cake was cut. I had a LOT of fun making it (It was also a barbie dress cake, so it was extra fun!). I think I want to make rainbow cakes all the time now, they’re so beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve been keeping up with your blog, and love your photographs and all your color!!!!!

Amy - Yours yells “canning ball”…..my 4 year old little boy yells “candy bar”!!! It’s funny how they interpret things!! 😉

RLG - Canadian H&H is my favorite, too! It’s soo good. Very expensive indeed. xoxo

Jane - love the insight into random events in your week. but even more I love that you have australian relatives – I’m an aussie too!!
It’s been lovely to see your family enjoying the summer as we shiver through a cold winter…

tara pollard pakosta - love love LOVE your reaL everyday LIfe photos!
so love them!
tara

tasha roe - get out! that’s my favorite magazine too!! my sister lives outside of toronto so when we visited her at christmas i scoured for old issues. only found one though. it was awesome. my mom is heading up there today and will be getting one for me. i’ll have her grab one for you too!

Adrienne S - Where were you looking at patio furniture? I am looking for a small table like the one your kids were sitting at.

Barb - Ditto the comments about the camera…and the patio furniture. Share!

Julie - I so want to make that rainbow cake but one of the kiddos is allergic to food dye. Wondering if there is a special food coloring you use to make this?
Great randomness!

Sophie - Such wonderful pictures (:
I love the every day shots the most.
It’s great to see Lauren around, especailly with a camera. (:
And Talby looks SO much like you, I never realised!
Such a sweet girl!

Kat - Love the random shots.
Talby does look very much like you!
Where abouts in Australia do your cousin and uncle live?
We are in Tasmania, Australia.

Denissa - I love random! The rainbow cake was DELISH!!! Except I’m a dork and layered it wrong, which my ever so kind 8yo said “Duh, mom the purple goes on the bottom.”
Whatever still was pretty and yummy! 🙂

Deputy's Wife - I am making that cake this summer!!!

Katie F - WOW! I have never noticed how much Talby looks like you til those side by side pics. Precious! You should print those for her. One day she will absolutely treasure photos of her with her mom. 🙂

Rach - $57??? Are you kidding me? It’s a magazine!!! WOW!
I can’t wait to take pics of me and my daughter like the ones you have on this post. So sweet and so precious!

aimee - you have a darling mini-me! and i think you’ve sold me on that bistro table – i’m going to look for one tomorrow!

Tara - you don’t take yourself too seriously. I think that’s the thing I like about you the most. not sure why this is my comment…but it’s what came to my mind when I read this post.

Sharla - I too, love the randomness. Will have to check out that mag, haven’t heard of it.. . . .

Nicole Q. - I love the randomness.

Leigh - Sam is CUTE!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - You and your mini-me sooo cute. I have one of those too:) And every time I see that cake I vow to make one…someday:) Love the random posts Meg.

Amy D. - SO cute! I love all the family shots. 🙂 My daughter always yells “Tannenbaum” when she jumps in.

Lori - Adorable! I looovvveeee the pup pic. But then again, I loved the foot pictured, laughed at the possible tornado picture, and smiled at the mom/daughter pictures. 🙂

Leslie P. - I just got teary looking at your photos of you and your mini-me being so beautiful! The tears welling up also had to do with the fact that I’m listening to the song “In These Arms” by the Swell Season at the same time. Try it. Look at those pictures of you two and listen to this at the same time(open in a different window). You’ll weep, I have a feeling, because you’re a mom and I am too. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UnwvI5Atwk

Heather - my son saw the last photo and said…see our dog’s not the only one that drinks where he’s not supposed to! (ours drinks out of the pool only. we can’t get him to drink out of a bowl to save his life!)

Alda - I subscribe to Canadian House and Home and would love to pass it along to you when done from my home in Canada. If you can think of the most economical way to do it, I would be happy to do it. I love the idea of recycling and sharing.

Heather - where were you shopping for patio furniture? that’s a good deal!!! 🙂
love the pics!!!

Lori - Thanks for sharing your summer Meg! My kids are still. in. school! Til the 18th. Except for the senior, she graduates the 15th. We can’t wait to get started!

Keri - I think summer is all about randomness.
Especially fun randomness. 🙂

Penny - Yes, you do have a mini-me (you). Ha! I love the randomness of the pictures. {{Waffle!}} I wish he could come and have a play date with our Goldendoodle. They would have so much fun!

Chris - So funny – I have a dog that looks like a gray version of Waffle. He’s always drinking out of the birdbath!

Krista - Love your random pictures. I think my favorite is the one with the kids sitting at the patio table in the store acting like they owned the place!
Also, I have been using your rainbow cake recipe but adapted it for cupcakes. For my daughter’s birthday at school, she took rainbow/tie dye cupcake cones– they were a big hit!

Lisa - Love those freckled faces! 🙂

kelli - waffle! lol. thanks for sharing. all smiles here 🙂

Anna Marie - I agree about the camera. Do tell. 😉

ckiser@chem-castltd.com - whoa…your ‘mini-me’ is right about Talby. I’ve seen many pictures of each of you throughout your blog, but don’t remember seeing you side by side. the resemblence is remarkable.

Cami - The famous rainbow cake 🙂 It was a hit with my family!!!

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - If you have a new camera, don’t you know you ‘have’ to share with all of us about it???

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stuff.

May 19, 2010 Filed in etsy goodness,funny videos,random,self portrait project



this looks like my kind of movie.

***i received a fun surprise in the mail this week.
i never really knew amy (the designer) because she is the much younger sister of my friend's husband.   
i remember she was a tiny little girl.  :) very petite.
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she has an etsy shop filled with really cute custom stationary.
she made some for me.
 

IMG_1055it it was obvious to me that she knows me in real life.
they say Megan.
not Meg.
🙂

i love them amy….thank you so much!


****and another thing:

Leon
 

***did you see the movie Almost Famous?
it's old.
it's from 2000.
recently craig was talking to someone and they said they had never seen it.
WHAT?
we love that movie….it is so so good.
Philip Seymour Hoffman has a minor role and he is classic.
so…if you never saw Almost Famous…do it.


***my chicago friend Julie has been doing a self portrait project this year.
her rule is that there are no rules except she has to take the picture.
i want to copy her.
so i am.
here is my first self portrait in my project.
stretching at home after i ran 3 miles…alone…without stopping! 
 

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***last because it's the best:
i have an opening for pictures on MAY 25.

email me if you want that spot. 
it's taken.  :)

add a comment

Kim - check out jessie baylin – wife of the drummer from kings of leon. oh my goodness such an amazing talent!!

Courtney Walsh - the thing about Almost Famous that struck me was Kate Hudson. It was her first movie, before anyone knew who she was and there’s that scene where she realizes the rocker dude doesn’t love her and she is AMAZING in that scene. It is so raw and real and I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it!! Love it.
Like the self portrait. 🙂

Molly - ooooh I want to see that movie so bad! And I love kings of leon…and Almost Famous!!
Molly
http://www.mypeaceoflove.com

Kristi - Looovvvvvveee Almost Famous (we own it, lol) and LOVE smoothies! And you GO girl on your run 🙂
Kristi

Kate Bowell - We rock to the Kings of Leon in our mini-van. . . and we are seriously thankful that the words are just a tad bit hard to understand. We would have some serious explaining to do if they weren’t! You just can’t have that kind of talk coming from a kid! Love them!

tami reed - That movie looks so cute!

Darkchocolate Angel - Hello Meg,
After reading your blog from beginning to end (yes I read all the way back to your first post in Jan 07) I really have to write in to say you have an wonderful family and an even wonderful way of writing about them…there never was a dull post! 🙂 I looove all your pics….I hope it dosent creep you if I said I would have taken some similar pictures of stuff if I had a camera (and all the skill you have too!) We have absolutely nothing in common….but I still love love love your blog! I just started one of mine (no dont go thr…i havent posted anything worthwhile at all yet…just 2 posts!) I just wish mine turns out at least half as good as yours!
whew!! that was a long comment (considering I have never commented on any blog ever!) hope to see more of your wonderful work 🙂

Amanda - Dear Meg,
I’ve been following your blog for over a year now, and aside from your gorgeous home, excellent recipes, and stunning photos, I knew I liked you for a reason–like me, you love Kings of Leon!

danyelle - i can’t wait to see “babies”!
thanks for the sweet mention on your happy space. 😉

nora - nice job on the run! tht babies trailer cracks me up!

Laura Phelps - I ran for 20 minutes yesterday and thought I was going to faint and throw up. Seriously sick. See? I knew physical activity was BAD
but you look good…

aimee - gorgeous stationery! and thanks for the “it’s true” link – i just howled at your caption! thanks for making me smile! xo

sandy toe - I want to see that movie “babies” but it is gone! It was in my area for one weekend…boo hoo!
sandy toe

Musings Of A Gem - Love the stationary! So cute : ) I love the way waffle is looking down on you also lol
Gemma X http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Amy J. - Thanks, Meg! I’m glad you liked the stationery 🙂 Yeah, I just remember you with Tonya- you were a cheerleader with her right?! Things have changed…and I’m not especially petite anymore!! 🙂

elisabeth (bovagoods) - i ignored kings of leon for a while too. now i love them!!! wouldn’t that be an awesome concert to go to?

dianereeves - I need to see both of those movies-I have watched the Babies trailer multiple times, plus it has Sufjan as the track, I know I will LOVE it.
Thanks for linking my Kid’s Art Journal DIY!
I always love visiting your “Happy Things” list.

anna - Babies is the funniest movie, you will laugh your head off! – and then cry a bit too 🙂

Stephanie - That’s my birthday!! =) Too bad I don’t live closer.

jenni@talkinghairdryer - I’m totally getting one of those arm band thingies for my ipod. It’s a must when running, isn’t it?

Jodi - I can totally relate to your Kings Of Leon thing, but for me it’s with Snow Patrol…I saw them open for U2 and was like “hello, where have you been all my life?”
I have recently been listening to KOL too though, “Revelry” is my new favorite. Love your blog as always! That’s so awesome that you did 3 miles!

kristine - saw babies on mother’s day! LOVED it! you will too – except you’ll want more babies for sure! super sweet.
LOVE your new cards! LOVE kings of leon. LOVE almost famous.
LOVE the self-portrait idea too but i’ll leave that to you guys. keep showing them! lastly, wish i could take your photo slot!

Staci - And allll Waffle wants to know is when you are going to play with him I bet 🙂 That face….I know it well 🙂 And now, I must go find Almost Famous!

Art Cant Hurt - i’ve been meaning to tell you that i love what you’ve done with your hair!
so cute – and perfect for a runner 😉
take care!

Dee Stephens - love that stationary!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I will have to google Kings of Leon. I have no idea what the reference refers to? I will also have to check out Almost Famous. After reading today’s post I feel as though I’m living under a rock. Am I really that out of touch? Off to google…
Dana

Lauren - We discovered Kings of Leon last summer. OMG! LOVE them!

Lisa - Yeah. Kings of Leon. LOVE THEM!

Casey - Can’t wait to see that movie.
LOVE the sweet treat you got in the mail. Awesome.
Almost Famous is so good! I want to be a groupie. For Wham, of course, circa 1986.

Christa - I loved Babies! It was a great exploration of culture, in my opinion. Then again, I have my own baby, so I’m biased.
(What kind of opening for pictures??)

Julie K. - AWESOME! I can’t wait to see your self portraits!

sarah - Didn’t know Amy J was family… we’ve just become blogger friends 🙂
I love her stationary!
Great first self portrait.
3 miles, great job!!

Tanya - I love Almost Famous. great movie! Oh and Kings of Leon.

Melanie - I love the Kings of Leon!

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that’s the good stuff.

May 8, 2010 Filed in family fun,my goofball kids,random

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Waffle

add a comment

Kimberlee J. - Love the earrings you’re wearing in that last shot.

Christina - Those first pictures with your younger son (I think that’s right) are so funny. And Talby is looking so like you! What a sweet face!
Happy Mother’s Day.

karen - Happy Mother’s Day Meg!!

Melanie - I love the photo of Talby. She is adorable!

Erin from Skoots and Cuddles - i love the photo of you and your pooch! it truly is the good stuff. thanks for sharing!

amy jupin - please move to alabama and be my bff. pretty please!

Jennifer - Wonderful, happy pictures! Especially the ones of you all terrorizing some indoor pool. HA!
We did a family cannon ball (Mom and Dad too!) on our cruise back in December. A family was allowing their kid to be VERY rude, splashing my girls terribly with no regard at all. So before we left, we retaliated. Great lesson for the kids, no?

Sixty-Fifth Avenue - Looks like so much fun! All of it!
We are starting swim lessons next week for our 4 year old…I hope this year she has more fun in the water.
Have a fabulous mothers day!!

Carrie K - good stuff for sure!! love the pool pics the most…
and that one of you and waffle…haaahaahaaa…that made me laugh LOUD…at WORK…whoops…haaahaahaa

Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife - Such priceless photos! I’m so glad I found your blog. I loved the guest post at 320 Sycamore!

Staci - Fun times 🙂 And I love Waffle’s “mean dog” face 🙂 I love it that you have to help him be mean 😉 Happy Mother’s Day Meg!!!!!!!!

Sue K. - oh ya, i forgot to say, it hard to make a doodle look vicious, even when you try too!

Sue K. - love waffles haircut – looks just like koda used too sniff sniff… and oh my goodness, talby looks just like you!!!

Molly - Looks like fun!!!
Molly
http://www.mypeaceoflove.com

Jesse Peak - My little ones just started taking swim lesson 2 months ago. We are loving it. Can’t wait to let them take off and swim this summer.
P.S. I have been thinking I might try to make an at home photo booth and duplicate that look. I think it would be fun! Happy Mother’s Day!

Gemma - Your pictures are lovely!( As per usual lol)
Yummy doughnuts 😀
Gemma X http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

seriouslyahomemaker - stop it with the cute kids. its not fair to the rest of us! 🙂
angie

kelli - please have a drubers giveaway! 🙂

Dana Banana - This is the 3rd post I have seen today about Drubers. Makes me REALLY want donuts!

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random pictures from last week…

April 26, 2010 Filed in random

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we had a lot of rain last week.
 
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he doesn't look like this anymore…he's bald again.
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i am so happy it's campfire season again!
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they are inseparable.
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we bought a new memory game (again) and annie is really good.
and i was very distracted.  
 
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annie bites the lids….
talby lined these up in the jar in rainbow order.  
then she got mad when they got messed up…she is an organizer.

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we took scott to see an all star game.
he asked me for pen and paper to get this guy's autograph.  i didn't have any but i had my camera.
it took scott about five minutes to work up the nerve to ask him for a photo with him.
it was so cute.

craig…who is this guy?

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planted in pots.

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two boys angry about getting haircuts….
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a scene at dinner time taken by talby….

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new behavior reward system we are working on…i am pretending i am a teacher.  :)
maybe i will have a pizza party when it's full.
ha.

all the pillows are gone from the shop.
they always go so fast.
thank you for that.

the tees i have in the shop are long sleeve.  
I know that it's spring and i should have short sleeve….but i didn't want to buy more tees before i sold 
the ones i already had.
so that is why.
i haven't lost my mind.

AND
today i finished my photography schedule.
and i put it on my photography blog.
there is a button up top on the left to link to it and it looks like this:
    
 Photobutton
 
i sent an email to everyone who asked to be on the spring schedule last night.
if you didn't get it…check your spam.
and of course it's possible that i missed someone.
if so…just click the button and find a date that would work for your family.
thanks!

once the dates are full…that's it.
i can't do more than what is there.
there is just no time.
so once they are gone…there will be no more added. 



ps…..my workout today was awesome.
i feel like a power house now that i am a "runner".  ha ha ha.
i ran and ran and ran.
no more 6 minutes for me.
bring on the 35!  
 

add a comment

Lou - todays my birthday!!!!!!

anna. - Your cut is SO cute. Uber chic.

Dianne Avery - I’m so happy to see that I’m not the only one who’s daughter kick her butt at the memory game.

Vera - Oh no, I missed pillows! I’ve been stalking you to snag one for that nursery that was inspired by your guest/play/reading room. I love your random pictures!

Katie - I have a big fluffy dog (love the name Waffle BTW) and we shave her in the summer but were getting concerned when her hair began getting matted close to her skin. It turns out that if you shave them too much their hair doesn’t grow back correctly (or something like that). I just wanted to share.

regina - I am curious of your reward system w/the marbles. I am using stickers and my daughter is getting tired of stickers.
Love the hair by the way:)

julia - Dear Santa’s Little Helper,
I love all your pictures. I need to go around places in my world and take some pictures of things that make me happy. That’s what it seems like you do.
Your dog Waffle looks like he has loads of personality. Does he have a brother/sister/cousin in need of a good home?

tara - running is a DRUG. but a good one. you’re awesome.
~Tara

Kacey - Yay on the running! You’re an inspiration.
I love peeking in on your happy and colorful life.

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - Oh my- I started the marble jar yesterday too! How funny! It’s really just for stubborn Chloe’s back-talk. I’m thinking more marbles will be coming OUT than going in for a while. And I did do it when I was a teacher also 🙂

a-m - I love looking at your photographs, they really brighten my day – thanks!
I hit the Gym again today (after four months away and lots of Christmas and Easter chocolate!), I only managed 10 minutes ‘running’ (more like trotting!) on the treadmill (I did do other things, just not much running!). Now you’ve said you’re aiming to do 35 minutes, I’m going to try and get there too. Admittedly, I’ve never ‘run’ for that long in my life ever, so it may take a while!
Thanks for the inspiration!
a-m x

Kelly Harper - o.k.. girl… stumbled onto your blog and inspired by your beautiful work. Your house, photos, sewing… you are SO talented! Just saw that you are from Wichita. I don’t know why but your name sounds so familiar to me? i, too, grew up in Wichita… went to McCollom Elem. school and then 1 year at hmmm… is it bad, that i totally CANNOT remember the name of the junior high! Moved to Seattle when i was in the 7th grade… didn’t know if you had also grown up in Wichita and we may have been schoolmates…
Totally not meaning for this to sound “stalkerish”!
Kelly
http://www.kellyharperphotography.com

Emily - fwiw…Clevin Hannah is the WSU player 🙂

Maria - Waffle looks so cuddly in that picture…can’t wait for more pillows to come…
and if you ever travel down South and have time to take some pictures…well, let’s just say we have lots of opportunities for you to try out some awesome food…

Barb - Your haircut is so stinkin’ cute! You’ll have to show us Waffle’s new ‘do, too. 😉

Mother Runner - I love you!
…and the boy’s name is Michael. hahahahahaahaha

Jennifer - Will you be selling more pillows soon? My 18 yr. old debated about staying home from school so she could buy one and I debated about staying home from work – Our conscious got the better of us….They are so pretty and we would love to buy one. I know you have a crazy schedule but please make more soon!!!! Have a great week!

kristine - you look GREAT! and i love that you cut their hair! so awesome!

Laura Phelps - that’s my haircut!
and I am growing it out.
but…I kept it for over a year, and loved loved loved it!!!
I think turning 40 has me thinking I need a new do….
easier than losing weight.
rock that new hair sister! You are beautiful.
and more pillows, please….I want Nick to buy me one for mothers day…..

Lisa - Your hair is so cute. All the photos are awesome, but I just kept thinking, “Dang. Such great hair.” Happy Monday.

sarah j - i think the trick to running is alternating between walking and running! make a promise to yourself that you’ll run for a certain amount of time, then allow yourself a little break…and then repeat. you’ll find you can go way father than you thought, simply because mentally you are not running for 35 minutes–you’re running for 4 or 5. little segments.
who knew running was really all mental?
you can DO IT!

Melanie - Nice pictures!
And good for you on the jogging. It hurts my knees. Must be my age….42! LOL!

Bec - I just got done taking a class all about behavior and it’s function and the usefulness of token (reward) systems so if you ever have any questions, let me know! 😉 Or I can lend you the book from my class haha.

chasity - yay for random photos!
love the one with annie and her bff….aren’t they adorable?!
and talby must be a kindred spirit~ love the way she thinks
🙂
chasity

Georgia - I have been checking your etsy all day (in Uk time, so i thought i would have a head start) and i missed the pillows!!! haha
typical – thats fate telling me to stop spending money
haha

Tere - I’m glad you and Annie are wearing your Christmas shirts 🙂
My son bites the pens too, grrr.
Keep us posted on the reward system.
I missed the pillows too, I even rolled out of bed at 6am PDT to logon with my iPhone. Guess this west coast girl should have been up earlier. There’s always next time.

Jessica - One Shiny Star - I’m sad I missed the pillows, I guess I’ll have to be quicker next time. 🙁

Angela - Were ya’ll making S’mores with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? That sounds sooooo yummy. I think I need to go start a campfire right now and try that.:)

Staci - Listen to YOU….all powered up and confident!!! YAY YOU!!!!!! Can I borrow some?? I love your randomness 🙂 And I am sad your pillows are already sold out…but I called that didn’t I??!!! hee hee 🙂 Happy Monday !!!!!

angela - I love that you have on a santa shirt and your daughter had on a snowman shirt!!:) And I love that she bites the lids…I do too! Your blog is fabulous…even though I DID want one of those pillows.:(

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random

April 6, 2010 Filed in pretty,random

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happy stuff around our house this week.
and that is that.

add a comment

jaz - What absolutely lovely, beautiful randomness xox

Taylor - I enjoyed all the photos. The cookies look so yummy!

tami reed - Your pics always makes me smile!

courtney - Lovely pictures! Can I ask where you got your chairs…the cream colored one? I’ve been on the hunt for some JUST like that!

Kristi - What a beautiful post! I.LOVE.IT.ALL!!!!! I love your blog 🙂
Kristi

Rhonda - Your photos are always so great. I love them but I’m jealous, in a good way. I want to take some happy home pics as well.
Love your blog.
Rhonda

sarah, flourish design + style - One word. Gorgeous.. such simple every day things captured by an amazing eye! Love your blog.. your work is stunning! xoxo

Kristin S - Maybe my favorite post ever.

Susan - Talby at the piano is precious!
Love it!
Please send me family portrait info. when you get it together. Our family needs an updated portrait. Thanks 🙂

Gemma - Wow you take some lovely shots! I love the one of waffle sniffing the grass in a jar 😀
You are such an inspiration!
Come and visit my blog its kinda new but i’m getting the hang of it 😀
Gemma X
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth - Super Cute!!!!

Carla - you have a great eye for seeing beauty in things…love your pictures. thanks for sharing.

amy d - i love all of these pictures…especially annie hanging off the window, and of course waffle dog 🙂 miley would like a print of the treat jar 🙂

amy jupin - i think this is what i love most about your blog…the way you make the every day beautiful.

Suzanne Gallagher - I have to tell you, you have an amazing way of telling a story with each photograph. I look forward to your post each and everyday.

Melanie - Love all the pictures!

lifeologia - Great pictures – as always. I kept going back to the one of Annie hanging like that – how does she do this? She’s quite an acrobat 😉

Liz - Hi Meg,
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog! In all honesty I was like: Holy Cow! It’s Meg Duerksen,… leaving a comment on my blog!!! I’m such a huge “stalker” of your blog that I think I was a bit star-struck for a minute 😉 I know,… I’m such a dork!
Anyway, I got the dress at The Children’s Place. And yes, I think your Annie would look lovely in it.
Thanks again!

sarah barry - Love your photos! That Easter lunch looks phenomenal!

Michelle - A Cora dress? In a size that fits girls and not a baby? Wow I’d like to be able to buy one of them!

sarah - I’ll take a cookie please.
Like the jar of marker happiness.
And Talby in her pretty dress playing at the piano.
Wonderful. All around goodness.

Courtney Walsh - love it all. your cookies look perfect! yum!

katy - so pretty!!
I wish I could grab that yummy Starbucks cup through the screen. 🙂 …….oh, how i wish

gina - ps. when are you going to publish a happy coffee table book?! – signed an eager future customer

gina - love.

La Dolce Vita Gal - Oh, Waffle.

Jaimie - I love how you take pictures of random things and they are still beautiful.

tasha roe - FUN pictures. 🙂
where were you at in the vintage/thrift shop? please tell me a new find in wichita!!

purejoy - yay for a cora’s dress!!! so cute (especially the person inside it!)
happy happy pictures.

keely - Behold, the power of Starbucks. Just seeing that picture made me “need” it. 🙂

Tara - love the pictures..thanks for sharing!!!

kathy eller - honestly, I was a little annoyed that you had markers and crayons out and a FULL jar of cookies..must have perfectly behaved children unlike mine. THEN I saw your hanging monkey. Oh good.

julia - love the pics….I need that green bamboo McCoy pot! I mean I already have a couple but…

Lisa - Love Annie’s Cora dress – so cute! And I soooo want some of those cookies. 🙂

Laura Phelps - oh, my little Meg…nobody gives better random than you!!!!!!!!
and now I am off to figure out how to convince my husband that we all need to DRIVE back east this summer, and stop by the house of WHATEVER for a visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tere - I like it!

Courtney - Just LOVE. Well done!

KK - I love your photos! They’re always so gorgeous. Does look like a happy house! 🙂 Just brightened my day, by looking at your happy photos and house!
Have a great day!
-KK

amy - thanks for passing on the happy! good stuff!

Sandy - Love the random shots. The cookies would not last in my house long enough to get a picture! They look delish!

Liz - I just ADORE your blog.
And that’s that 🙂

Rachel Ridd - Great shots! You’re pictures are always full of color. Please share your secrets … 🙂

CarrieBeth James - I love love LOVE your posts like this! so cheerful 🙂

Morning T - Your random posts are the best. My favorite is your pooch sniffing the potted grass….exactly what mine would be doing!

chasity - your random picture days are my favorite.
love the daffs on your windowsill.
you are so good at capturing wonderful moments with people.
that’s a skill i’m trying to work on.
you’ve got it mastered!
chasity

Tonia Hobbs - Happy Pictures! Thanks for sharing!

Jessica Reed - I love the picture of your kitchen window, and the pretty yellow flowers, but especially the glasses the flowers are in! So unique. You house is so pretty!

Jessica - LOVE!! Your pictures always make me feel happy!!

Megan - I love your hanging monkey, too cute! Great pictures as always!

{Gypsy Soul} - Colorful & real photos- love it! Was that Easter dinner because it looks scrumptious =)

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - Those pictures make me happy! I want to put my boys crayons in a big ol’ glass jar like the one you have your markers in, but I’m afraid of it falling and shattering. Have you had any trouble with that? Maybe your kids are calmer than mine. 🙂 also, LOVE how distressed your chair is in that picture w/ annie. looks like real life. have a great day!

feather - you’ve had a busy week, i see. lovely shots. and save a cookie for me, k?

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Love your random happy pictures. That fire pit one was really interesting:) Happy day to ya Meg.

Julie - That does look happy!!

Lori - Happy, indeed. Thanks for sharing! Oh, and I love that row of tall skinny bottles!

Laura Lee - Thanks for making me smile 🙂

Lisa - All those wonderful glass jars. Jealous muchly. 😉

LouBoo - Great random shots – they look somewhat how my random shots would look, if I were cleverer with a camera! The piano one is lovely.

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oh so very random…and a giveaway!

February 27, 2010 Filed in random

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whenever you have something going on…lots of plans…very busy…
something always happens to throw you off and slow you down.
thursday night lauren cut her leg open on the trampoline.   
it's unclear what occured…but stitches were required.
 
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craig is not a doctor (he just plays one on the blog)
but he did his best to pull the cut together with butterfly bandaids
until we could take her to the dr. in the morning.
and by "we" i mean ME.
we sat for a few hours at the doctor
which actually turned out to be very relaxing…i read my book.
and there were no tears even with a bunch of stitches…she thinks there are 8…we forgot to ask.
she let me hold her hand….that is a big deal.
 
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here is a lovely shot.
i was trying to catch the beautiful light that was blasting in my kitchen while i was stretching.
ha.
interesting eh?

IMG_0557then i came across this pic from new year's eve.  
i think i took it…but i don't remember.

and this one…all the moms trying to figure our phones to text each other…we are dorks. (new year's)
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my kids don't know it but i have presents for them each day i am gone.
nothing major…candy for movie might…cd for the car rides to school…new underwear…
but they will love a little note form me each day.
at least i think they will.

i have had quite the week for mail.
happy happy mail.

this cute M necklace arrived from madison reese designs.  
she sent it just to be nice.  
it is sweet and goes with everything! 
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and sarah sent me journals and pens for my trip.  SO thoughtful.  i was wowed.

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tiffany sent a bunch of scrapbook supplies.  I LOVE THEM!!  little
umbrellas?  sigh.

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cecy sent me sunscreen that she sells for beauty society.  i am going to use it and NOT get a sunburn.
i promise.

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and THIS!!!

carissa you are so awesome!  
i couldn't believe it when i opened the beautifully wrapped box what was inside….i got all teary.
wow. 
the 5 is BIG and it's from the french larkspur.  
i love it.

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julie told me about these shoes…i picked them up that day.
perfect yellow ruffles to make me smile.
they are like sunshine. 
(and they are platform wedges)

AND NOW for the giveaway….
my flea market style magazine arrived in the mail today!

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i got a copy in the mail because linda from restyled home put ME IN IT!!
 
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and guess what?! 
i got an extra copy to give to one of my readers!  yay!

it is a really great magazine!  
i was impressed….it was even better than i was hoping.  
if you don't win one you can pick it up everywhere you buy magazines.  
i saw it at walmart and our grocery stores.

leave a comment telling me the best thing you ever got in the mail.  
i will draw a winner on monday morning.

and then i will leave for africa!!! 

add a comment

Lucylu ~ - the best thing i ever got in the mail was…………..a Pure NRG CD

Lacy Brauner - ..letters from my brother, who is incarcerated. He is a good hearted man and has made mistakes. When he writes, I can hear his laugh and his voice. We laugh the same and find the same things funny..Siblings are the closest to you in the world, according to our DNA..I know him and I have a cosmic bond, its just different than any other bond Ive had in my whole life.

Cindy - Love letters from my first boyfriend when I went back home after summer vacation. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Now that I’m an old married lady with a teenager it’s important to remember that intensity (and try to STOP it! haha)
Have an awesome trip. I bet it will be so amazing!

Christy - ooh I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of that!!

Laura - The best thing I ever got in the mail was a letter from a boy i liked at camp in high school, letting me know he liked me too. Fast forward exactly 6 years from that day are we got married!
Best wishes on your trip to Africa, you will be in my prayers.

Meaghan - Letters from my grandpa when I was a freshman in college. He sent the sweetest notes just telling me what he was up to and telling me he was proud of me. One time he included a $20 and wrote “shh! don’t tell anyone.” I could picture him winking at me. He was a great man, so glad I kept his letters.
Wishing you the best on your trip! Your kids will love the gift bags..what a sweet idea.

Jemm - I hope I’m not too late for this!! I saw the magazine in the store a couple of days ago and had to pass it up ($10) ’cause we’re kinda going through some hard times right now. That is too cool that you’re in it. The best thing I’ve ever gotten in the mail…um… I guess when I order a book from amazon…I never get anything in the mail!

Jenny - I think the best thing I got in the mail was in 1997, I was a senior in high school and my acceptance letter to Penn State University arrived. My Mom brought it to me at school. She didn’t open it but she knew it was the right size to be the acceptance letter.

Kimberlee J. - I don’t know about the best thing…but I do like it IF we get a tax refund and we get notification by mail!

Jill - One year for my birthday a friend’s mother sent me a package (it was a bit odd since I’d never gotten a gift from her before!) & she sent the bridesmaid dress that her daughter wore in my wedding – the note siad I would enjoy it hanging in my closet more than she would, it being in her closet. It is wonderful to have that dress in my life!!!
Thanks Mom A!!

rosemarie - any magazine …i love magazines!

widge - I just got a travelling pad in the mail last week! that was pretty cool.
My husband sends me random gifts via mail and courier every so often so i have had some goodies. random things but fun.
would love to check out your magazine! don’t think it’s available here in NZ

princess lasertron - I am just in awe of you and your life. I know that is weird to hear from people but seriously, you’re amazing and I hope that I am as great of a mother as you are someday. My whole life I just wanted to be a mom. You’re inspiring.
I love impromptu mail presents too. I got a gift in the mail from Jo Packham the other day that made my day–a little party hat and a cute outfit for Alice. I don’t know if I have a favorite mail ever. I like ALL mail that isn’t a bill or junk!

sara - best mail would be a letter from a little girl (my cousin) just learning to write.
i’ll be praying for you & your family during your journey. have a blessed time!

susie whyte - my sister-in-law sent me a package with a cross necklace in it that had belonged to my dad. he never took it off. i thought he had been buried with it, but there it was in this little box, like it had finally come home. it was better than winning the lottery. 🙂
we just did 9 stitches on my 4 yr old daughter’s head 2 weeks ago. i’m glad lauren handled it better than she did. 🙂

s.t. - any letters from friends & loved ones are always the very best!

Leah - We used to get homemade cookies and divinity from family in Florida each year at Christmas time. That divinity was the best thing my tongue has ever tasted!

Nicole - Best thing I ever got in the mail… probably my wedding gifts! My husband and I live in Oregon, but we got married in NY (we are both from NY and our families were all there, so it was easier for us to go to them). After the wedding, we came back to Oregon. My Mom packed up all our gifts and a few favors from the wedding and shipped them out to us. So we got to open our wedding presents twice!!

Danielle Townsend - I was on a mission for my church and we couldn’t really call home very often, so letters it was. I was gone during Christmas and it was especially hard to be away from home at that time. We also didn’t have any money so my friends and I couldn’t get any decorations for our apartment. My sweet sisters and mom found a place that could send little potted decorated Christmas trees. So, one day I came home and there was this Christmas tree, just for me! I felt so blessed! Definitely the best thing I’ve ever received in the mail.

Lauren - The best thing I ever got in the mail was from my friend and old roommate who was living in New York. It was autumn, and she sent me an envelope of leaves–red, yellow, green, brown, orange, and golden ones of all different shapes and sizes. There was no note. Just leaves. And they smelled so good. 🙂
Praying for you on your trip!

Dena - The best thing I ever receievd in the mail was a letter from my grandma, which included seeds to plant a peanut bush!
She said she loved to pick peanuts as a kid, and thought my boys would enjoy the same.
She’s pretty awesome!

Lisa - a small note to our first daughter (when I was 6 months pregnant with her) from her daddy who was away at war…tellin’ her how sweet she was and that he couldn’t wait to meet her when he came back to us. 🙂
Have a safe trip! We’ll be praying!

Kirsten - What just popped into my head was happy mail last week – finally, 3 years after Tara Whitney took our family pictures, I got enlargements. And in anticipation, I had the empty frames on the wall, waiting for them. Yay!

donna - Meg – hope your trip is safe and fulfilling for you!!! the best thing i got in the mail was JIF peanut butter for my kids when we lived in England!!!

april - enjoy every moment of your trip!!!! My favorite thing to come in the mail would be my UGG boots….I basically live in them!!!

Dina Marie - My favorite thing that I ever get in the mail is to receive Christmas cards especially newsletters and family pictures. It was great to hear from them based on what they do during these years.
Speaking of that Flea magazine, it looks quite interesting. I would love to learn how to do some simple decorating in my home.
I want to say for you to have a safe trip to Africa. I am sure that you will gain much experience from your trip. I look forward to hear about your trip news via your blog.

Jodi Harder - love letters from my (at the time) boyfriend…

Jennifer Wilson-Miller - The best thing I got in the mail was the new lego catalogue with legos from the kids lego club for my 6 year old. Keeps him busy for hours.

Jen - Letters sent to me from my Grandmother while I was in college. A loooooong time ago but I still have them even though I don’t have her.

elizabeth highsmith - a jury summons, i had a ball. that and any handwritten letter or card!

jody - Love Letters….oh yes!

Christine Giannobile - The best thing I ever got in the mail: When I was turning 13, the big teenage year, my cousin was in Namibia, Africa for two years teaching. She couldn’t come home and I hadn’t seen her since she had left two years before. For my big birthday she had gone into one of the bigger cities. To get there she had to get in a taxi with 10 other people and drive on a dirt road. When she got there she payed her few dollars for internet access and ordered my birthday present. She timed it perfectly so the present arrived on my birthday. It was an Edna St. Vincent Milly poem book, with a poem about seperation marked for me. It was single handely the best most heartfelt peice on mail I have ever recived.
Good Luck in Africa Meg! I love your blog!

Shelly - Some great pieces of mail have been my children’s birth certificates. I also love getting birthday cards and Christmas cards too.

Ellen - our passports! 🙂

Kacey - Letters from a long distance friend all through high school. I always looked forward to those letters!
Meg, have a safe and wonderful trip. Thinking of you!
P.S. LOVE the shoes!

Laura Phelps - the best thing I ever got in the mail was the brand new limited edition 8 quart kitchen aid mixer sent to me for Christmas from someone who reads my blog!! can you say BLOWN AWAY???????????????????
and I am so jealous of you right now…the trip…the shoes…the 5…the magazine….
just thought I would put that out there.
JEALOUS.

Fernanda - Pictures! I love it when I recieve unexpected pictures in the mail from friends that come visit and without my asking mail me pictures from the time they spent with us… that just makes me smile 🙂 LOVE IT everytime…
BTW LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog!

Lindsay - Letters from my husband when he was deployed on a submarine and out at sea for months at a time. The Best.

Heather - The best thing I still get in the mail is the Kodak albums of our family that I make when I’m too busy to scrapbook!
Love your blog and pray God’s blessings as you experience your adventure in Africa! After reading Crazy Love as well, I’m hoping for the opportunity someday as well.
Heather

Suzanne D - My mom still sends “care packages” for our family like she did when I was in college. I love seeing my girls’ faces when we open the boxes. I have to admit that I am always excited to see what she picked out to send for us!
Praying for you while you are on your trip! It will be wonderful!

Kylie - I love getting prints in the mail that I have ordered online. So exciting!

Nicole - We received a “Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition.” Basically, it told us we were approved to adopt a little girl from China.THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AND TWO BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN AGO. We are still waiting.
I guess that letter represents a hope, a promise. It was our first positive pregnancy test, and we’re still waiting to go into labor. I wonder, will we ever go into labor? I honestly, at this point, don’t know. What I do know, for sure, is “many are the plans in a [wo]man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” Proverbs 19:21.
Thanks for your loyalty in sharing your life and gifts with us through your blog. Praying for you….

Courtney - Hand writen recipes from my grandmother. She has past away and these are so precious now.

Julie - Best thing I’ve gotten in the mail lately – my order from Everyday Minerals. Spent $44.00 that included shipping and handling and I got two brushes, one full size concealer and 24 trial sizes of various concealers, make up bases and eye shadows. The trial sizes last a long time, the makeup doesn’t hurt my skin like most other makeups do (I have rosacea), it covers well and heck it is just fun to play with new pretties. Have a rewarding trip!

Cindy Dibb - 28 days after I moved from California to Tennessee it was my birthday and my amazing friend sent me a to go container of my two favorite salsas from the taqueria I ate at all the time back home. I can’t put into words how it made me feel to have that familiar smell and taste in a place that was still so unfamiliar to me. Best mail ever!!!

Keshet - Hmmm, scrapbook supplies?

Natalie - The best thing I ever got in the mail was…an incredibly sweet card from my fiance {now husband}! 🙂

Drea - The best thing I’ve ever gotten in the mail was the oh, so- providentially-timed-by-God money after we were first married. We still don’t know who the sender was, but it blessed us immensely, especially in those tough first months-year.
P.S. I was in your town last week and recognized your house. LOVE. We were actually almost going to be neighbors…we tried to buy the house down the street from you…address number 400…but God had other plans, and that’s ok. ;)Have a great trip!

Stacy - One of the best things I’ve gotten in the mail was a friend from a pen pal from Slovakia. I live in Arizona, and my brother is on a mission in Slovakia. He told a friend to write a letter to his family, she happened to know a little English, and so I wrote her back. I love getting her letters!
I’ll pray for you while you’re on your trip! Good luck!

Ashley C. - The best thing I ever got in the mail was a hula dancer get up from my daddy when I was 5…he was stationed in Hawaii without us for 8 months…I played and played with that set…I still have the skirt and now my sweet little girls spend hours hula-ing just like their mama did as a gilr 🙂

Ashley C. - The best thing I ever got in the mail was a hula dancer get up from my daddy when I was 5…he was stationed in Hawaii without us for 8 months…I played and played with that set…I still have the skirt and now my sweet little girls spend hours hula-ing just like their mama did as a gilr 🙂

micah - I love mail from my best friend. She always sends the sweetest things that just tell me that she knows me like no one else does.
If I win, will you sign my copy???

Anne - Growing up we always looked forward to getting this amazing tin of chocolates at Christmas from my mom’s best friend. One year when I was in college my mom sent me a tin of my very own. It was the best ever!!

The Bookworm - The best thing ever was receiving a package in the mail for Valentine’s 2008. It was a package from my husband who was currently deployed. If you knew him, you would know that communication from him when he is deployed is very slim. He hates computers, email, writing letters, etc. But he also is not big on gifts. So for him to actually send something that he personally ordered & picked out along with a sweet message was huge!

Lisa - I don’t recall one specific package or letter, but letters from friends and family are always my favorite!

Amber Ferrier - Best Mail Ever:
The best mail I ever recieved was a letter from a half sister that I didnt even know existed. My parents divorced when I was 3 and I only saw my dad a handfull of times untill he passed away when I was 19. A couple years ago (when I was 26) I got a letter and a picture from a 15 year old girl named Nicole. It was a photo of her and my dad from when she was 4 or 5, and her letter was heartfelt and beautiful. My heart had always ached for a relationship with him and when he passed I was heartbroken because that chance to get to know him was gone. But now, Nicole and I have each other. That mail…changed my life.

Stephanie - A few years ago we got a letter from our mortgage company saying that our payment was going down and oh here’s a check for too much money that was in the escrow account. Loved that and of course has never happened again!!

Lorie Yoder - First of all Meg, I love your blog and DON’T miss it…EVER! The best thing I got in the mail are my wonderful Crocs boots. I have recess duty everyday at school, and in the winter, these boots are my life! We get a lot of snow in Indiana, and these keep my feet warm and toasty!

alamama - That’s a hard one. I would have to say in recent years it was a birthday card (one of those music ones) from an old friend who I don’t hear from much. If I remember tight it was one of those birthdays that I would’ve rather not have done anything on. (We have three b-days back to back, mine being the last.) When I opened the card “Walking on Sunshine” played. Totally made my day! I have held onto to the card to this day. When I need a sunny smile I open the card.
Thanks for the chance and have a great time in Africa!

Cori - Easy, The day I day I got my referral information about my oldest daughter Maggie. The adoption agency sent it to my office and I had to wait for 3 long hours for my husband to get back from a meeting to open it. As soon as he got to my office we were pushed into an empty room to take a first look at our beautiful girl. I still have the fed ex envelope. She just turned 12. How fast time goes!

kristi borden - A card from my friends:)
kristi borden
kristiborden@comcast.net

Marla - The best things I’ve received in the mail were probably the letters from my husband (then fiance) when I was in Ghana for a semester in college.

christine - Oh, Meg. How I love your blog 🙂 You brighten my days & I just love being welcomed into your home.
My most favorite thing in the mail was sent to me when I was studying abroad in Madrid. One afternoon I received a note in my box that I had a package and would need to claim it at the local post office. The local post office (a total misnomer) was a hefty taxicab ride away and in a less-than-desirable part of town. No matter, I claimed my package and opened it right there on the sidewalk in front of the worn-down building, and found the most amazing assortment of little treasures from my best friend back home. A stationary set, an address book, a flashlight, tons of small, little presents – each with a little note as to why they were important things for me to have. The address book, intended to house the many phone numbers of Spanish boys I was no doubt meeting, is one that I still use today – over 10 years later.
I had been feeling so homesick, and this thoughtful package was such a sweet, sweet thing – a little hug from a friend back home.
Oh, I saw polka dots and prayed for you yesterday! 🙂

Meghan Borough - My favorite thing I have ever gotten in the mail? Letters from my little brother (well, I guess 21 is not so little anymore…) who is in the ARMY.

Molly - An unexpected box filled with goods from a Kate Spade sample sale (a girlfriend works for Kate Spade).
Have a wonderful and safe trip to Africa!

julie harris - i was in college and away from home living in the dorm…my mom sent me the most random package…birthday plates, birthday napkins, forks, party hats, candles, icing…and…pringles and planters party peanuts …hmmm…i thought it was so random all day until i opened the pringles…inside were homemake cupcakes stacking on top of each other (uniced of course), sprinkles and decorations in the planters tin…it was a birthday party in a box…:)

Sharla - That is so cool that you’re in the magazine!!
Favorite mail is a hard one. My husband sent me wonderful letters when we were in college and he was interning in a different state, my bestie and I exchange fun mail when we have the time to make things for each other and postcards from my parents when they travel. I have wonderful memories of family vacations growing up and my mom’s postcards let me picture them wherever they are.
Have a great trip. Praying for you guys – know you will touch many lives. I can’t wait to see your pictures.

Laura - The best thing I ever got in the mail has to be a large chocolate hamper, I was in heaven for days (yes sadly it was so yummy it didn’t last long!).

Bella Jost - Hey Waffle, you never call. How ’bout sneaking that magazine my way? And maybe we could spend a little time together? I can run you ragged!
Your loving sister, Bella. (Woof! Rwwrr. – inside joke)

Annie - The best thing I ever get in the mail is hands down just a note from a friend out of the blue. “Just because”

Quinn - Best thing I ever got in the mail.. One of my best friends sent me a couple of pages telling me her life story.
I cried so hard, but we became so much closer because of it.
I hope you have a fun trip, maybe I will see you there 😉

Katie - Letters and Christmas cards/pix from friends. Also, I remember when I was little (before email and text messaging) and looking forward to letters from my pen pal!

Jen M in Texas - Letters from my husband while he was deployed overseas the first time. It was before the internet was really going and you had to pay for AOL by the hour and so we didn’t get to call or email like we do these days. Letters from him were the one thing that I would carry around with me everywhere until he came back home!!

Liz M - Just got my picture of Annie in the googly-google glasses. Love it. Best mail:
Letters from home when I was spending a year abroad in northern India. Back in the good old days, no internet, no cell phone, only snail mail that literally moved at a snail’s pace. ANY word from home was beyond glorious. I devoured every.single.word.
Safe travels. Have fun. Third world nations are so powerful– I tool my three boys back to India a couple years ago. It changed their lives: their world got so much smaller. Best quote from a then 12-year-old: “Wow. That blue tarp we rake our leaves on is like, housing for 10 families here.”
They got it.
Liz M

Roberta - The best thing I ever got in the mail was years ago we had ordered my daughter a My Twinn doll for Christmas- in September. It was all she wanted and at 7 years old she was becomming a big sister for the first time and I knew big changes were ahead. All the clothes arrived but come December the doll still hadn’t shipped. When it finally did ship, it stopped tracking somewhere in the middle of the US- lost! I called My Twinn, in tears, a week before Christmas. They were no help and I set out in search of some other doll to take its place. All of a sudden, late on the 23rd, the doll miraculously appeared! Best mail day ever! Congrats on being in the magazine! I would love to win a copy.

jenny - the best thing i ever got in the mail was the letters i would get from sister when she was away from college and i was a small girl, they were filled with colored pencil sketches and ideas to help me improve in my dance lessons, then we would write back and report. good good memories

Thea - My best mail came recently…Valentine’s Day…my favorite holiday! Well, we have had some bumps and bruises recently (like the last 3 years), but God is good and helping us take one day at a time. So, hubs was out of town on Valentine’s Day and her remembered to send me (and our daughter) very, very sweet cards. Meg, this is a BIG deal because he doesn’t do mushy stuff! This card had it all, mush, hearts, kisses, hugs and everything!!! I LOVED IT!!! Best mail ever!

Holly - Well, I am not famous like you so noone sends me anything. So, so sad, PEOPLE! I think the most coveted thing I have received in the mail is letters from my husband when he was serving in Desert Storm. He couldn’t tell me where he was and did not have access to phones, and email wasn’t invented yet so I began to chase the mailman each day. No, not because he was hot! Because he was bringing me a part of my husband. So, does that count?

Kristina - Okay, this might be silly but, I love it when I get my magazines in the mail :P. Those are good days!

Connie Faulkingham - The best thing I ever got were love letters from a college boy I was dating in High School…He was a total romantic, and I treasured every letter:)

Carol J - Best thing in the mail…long-distance love letters in the days before all the new communication technology.

Jennifer - Birthday cards with money inside!! Always unexpected and wonderful!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Love the 5!
My mom used to have a rainy day box for me growing up with little gifts. I remember little books and games. I will never forget that and neither will your kids. SO THOUGHTFUL of you.
Congrats on the feature. Your house definitely deserves to be in a magazine. I’d love to win;)

Jamie - A check in the mail for $500 from an anonymous giver at our church. It was so unexpected and really needed; I had a stack of bills that were due but couldn’t be paid until my husband got paid almost a week later. I didn’t think these things really happened to people — especially not us! God is good 🙂

julia - when I was at camp and my grandmother wrote me letters…I’m so glad I still have them.
Payless BETTER still have those shoes.

Dawn - A hand knit scarf that one of my best friends sent me for my birthday a few years ago!

MaryBeth - a norah jones cd with a check to cover my massive phone bill after a 7 hour phone to my future husband-met,talked 7 hours, married exactly 3 months later! 🙂

Rachel - I love the photos! You do yoga/stretching on a QUILT? What an awesome idea.
I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip to Africa. I’ve been reading all about it on here, but I don’t know if I’ve ever commented before. I have a few students from Sierra Leone.
Okay… the best thing I ever received in the mail…? Any time I get mail that’s addressed to me and not asking for money, it’s good. But the BEST thing? Has to be the letters my husband sent me the summer before we were married. We were living in different provinces and rarely saw each other. He kept me entertained and feeling loved, eve though we were apart.

alex - Ooh please pick me! 😀 The best thing that i ever got in the mail was actually just recently…a letter (an actual 3 1/2 paged letter) from my Grandpa who never writes! 😀

annalea @ our hartbeat - an old friend (i haven’t seen in five years and only spoke to a few times in that period) recently surprised me with a large box full of fabric – she works for a high-end distributor, was cleaning out her samples and said sher thought of me. i was about eight months pregnant and it totally made me cry i was so happy to dig through the treasures.
praying your trip is amazing and life changing!!!

Jackie - Letters from my husband or kids when they are away. My husband goes out of town for work, sometimes 3 or 4 weeks at a time. We talk every day most of the time, several times a day, but I love to get mail from him. Last week I got a handmade postcard from my son in college. We see him often, but this was just to say he was thinking of us, and that is special for a 22 year old boy!. If I win the magazine will go to my daughter. She will love it! Jackie
Will be praying for you while you are away. I would love it if you would give us some specific prayer requests. Jackie

Julianne - What a cool magazine!
My favorite package ever? Probably the Christmas present that came in the mail two years ago from my in-laws. When I opened it, it was a Bosch mixer. Oh dear me, I may have fainted, then peed my pants, then fainted again. I love Bosch stuff!

Jamie Pryor - I love getting FREE things in the mail from food to makeup to magazines and coupons for FREE items. Who says there’s nothing in life for FREE!

J.B. Kinrich - It didn’t happen to me, but to my Nana: She went to a fortune teller, who said she was going to get a diamond watch in the mail. Nana said that was absurd. And then sure enough, she got one! It was sent by her fiance.

Sally H. - Wow, have a GREAT trip, be safe, and yes, wear that sunscreen!
Best think I got in the mail:
A Land’s End Collared Shirt when I was a teenager. We never bought through a catalog (way too expensive back in the day), but my Mom bought me a striped Land’s End shirt for Christmas and I will never, ever, ever, ever forget the love I felt for that woman over such a materialistic thing, but I loved that shirt so much….that was over 20 years ago!

Sarah - anytime i get shoes!! sigh…

Jamie - that magazine would be the best thing I ever got in the mail… looks like a fun one!!

Amy - I’ve never gotten anything that awesome in the mail, but I was pretty excited for my curtains to arrive from Urban outfitters! The magazine looks awesome.
Amy

Jill - Dying over the yellow shoes. And LOVE the 5!

Bee Vollmuth - When I first went off to college I was feeling a little homesick for my grandparents (they are in AZ and I’m in IL going to school)–one day I had gotten a small package from them. I opened it up and inside was a green apple (which was one of my favorite foods when I was a kid). They had shipped a green Granny Smith apple all the way from Phoenix and my Ota (Gpa) to this day thinks it one of the funniest things ever. Little does he know it’s what got me through my first semester away from home:)

sherry - Best thing in the mail=a surprise necklace from Vintage Pearl, purchased by my amazing sister…wear it every.single.day.
I love that you have little gifts for the kids while you are gone, what a great idea.

Brooke Whitis - I love reading all these! The best thing I ever got in the mail was a letter from my husband in Ranger School (where we couldn’t communicate except by letter) telling me he couldn’t wait for our wedding in a couple days….telling me all the reasons why he wanted to be with me forever!
Recently, i got a really fun package in the mail from my sweet friend Hayley, filled with super fun gifts!

Callie - A Christams package with all my favorites one year when I was far away from home.

Amy - My childrens’ birth certificates.

Tracy - My best friend who moved away to Georgia, sent me the most darling sign,from http://www.fairyfreckles.com, it was such a sweet surprise! I miss her! I love your blog Meg, I follow several, but yours is one that I go to first and never miss. You always seem to encourage and inspire me in my walk with Jesus, thank you!

Bonnie - Cards and Letters from my almost 90 year Grandmother. She NEVER forgets a birthday or a Holiday (unlike me) She ALWAYS takes the time to write in everything she sends, always including a memory. I will always cherish her cards and letters!
Thanks for the chance to win!

Amy Harris - Just yesterday I received a care package from my best friend. I had told her that I’d been dreaming about painting our study the perfect shade of blue. She sent paint chips, her favorite paint brush, putty knives, great advice, a cute card and chocolate…and wishes that all my dreams would come true! 🙂
Blessings to you on your amazing adventure!!

julie - How cute are you in those shoes? Love the springy happiness. Best thing in the mail? Right now I am waiting for the new bathtub to arrive. Random that I am getting a bathtub in the mail, right? But it will be the first time in 8 years that we actually have one that is big enough for a grown up to lounge in. Now to carve out time for actual lounging.
Happy, happy, happy trip!!!

courtney - My Master’s Degree – The day the mail lady pulled up to our house I saw her pull the package out of the truck. I told her that was probably the most expensive piece of mail I will ever receive. It took me about 4 years to complete while staying at home but I did it!
Good Luck on trip!

Annette Young - I would have to say a Church Cookbook from my Aunt Audrey, she mailed it to me our first Christmas after we got married! she has since passed on and every time i use that cookbook i think of her! Hope you have a safe trip, enjoy every moment!

Amy Mierzejewski - the best mail I ever got was a mix tape (when they actually existed) from a boy I had a crush on. I was a freshman in college and oh so giddy!

ashley - Best mail ever was a recent package from my bloggy BFF Michelle. It had an adorable picture frame she made, yummy chocolate, a bottle of Framboise, lovely smell goods for body and hair, and her incredibly witty greeting cards. I love her so much! Isn’t the Internetz great?

Jessica Reed - This is kind of funny, but the only thing that comes to mind. Once, when my heat pump was broken and my house was freezing and our one space heater was dedicated to the office (where I was doing homework)… I complained on facebook that my toilet seat was freezing and I wished it was heated. Two days later I got a package in the mail from my sister in law. It was a Toilet seat cover, and while every one else thinks that is weird, they don’t have to sit on the 30 degree toilet seat. It was such a thoughtful, random gift. 🙂
And your kids will love your little presents. My mom used to do the same thing. 🙂
http://oneshinystar.blogspot.com/2010/02/abolish-cold-toilet-seats.

Penny - The best thing I can ever remember getting in the mail was a letter from our priest, telling us, after premarital counseling, he felt we would have a very successful marriage. 26 years later I still have that letter!
I would love this magazine! I hope you have a great time and do many good works on your trip!!

Scrappy Girl - The letter with the official date and time to go to court to FINALLY adopt our 2 little ones. Have fun in Africa!

Tracy - I would have to say my necklace from the Vintage Pearl. My hubby got me a gift certificate for Christmas and I absolutely love it!!
Hope you have a safe and wonderful trip!!

Art Cant Hurt - the official birth certificates for our kids had to be a major-mail-highlight!
have a wonderful time, a blessed trip and live in the moment! god be with you!
take care!

Wendy Brookes - Meg,
I read your blog daily. It inspired me to actually start my own blog. I still read yours every morning. I love your voice, as a wife, a mom and a perfectly imperfect woman. This is my first comment to you. I know how many you get. I don’t expect a comment in return…plus you are headed to Africa!
I’m not in it for the magazine (although I’d love it) you just got me thinking…what IS my favorite piece of mail?
Hmmmm.
I’d have to say it was a handwritten letter from a guy I had one date with asking me for a second one. It was witty, flattering and wonderful. I still have that letter. I married that guy 7 months after we met. I haven’t looked back. 3 beautiful daughters and almost 18 years later, he is still my guy.
He still writes me a letter every single morning (even when he was overseas on deployment on an aircraft carrier). He now includes a daily poem to the girls.
It all started with one little letter in the mail asking for a second date.
Have a GREAT trip to Africa. When I read you were going, I got chills. What a wonderful role model!
Can’t wait to hear all about it.

Bec - Safe travels! Stay hydrated on the plane- will help with jet lag! And no naps once you get there- like you’ll even have time for them 🙂 I am so excited for what you are doing. You are definitely on my prayer list!

Anne-Marie - Best mail I ever got goes back a few years…letters from my now husband. We were separated by 3,000 miles for 1 1/2 years prior to the e-mail boom! I love to look through this generous sized box of hand-written letters…sigh.
Wishing you a blessed trip as you venture off to Africa Meg! Know that we are all praying for you and those you are going to visit.

Robyn Farmer - A dear friend of mine made me the most beautiful and elegant pillow to match my bedding. I wasn’t expecting it at all and it made me feel so special to know she worked so hard on something for me.

Emily Morrice - BEST MAIL EVER:
When my husband and I were dating, I was in university 7 hours away from his city of Montreal. We knew phone was expensive and e-mails were convenient, but we took to writing letters, yes even in the 21st century!
He would write me long hand written letters, send CDs he’d made with worship songs we both loved or new bands he was introducing me to, and always a little present since my love language is gifts.
One Valentines day I was moping around because he and his brothers were leaving to visit family in Italy. He called me and asked if I got my package in the mail yet and I sulked and said “no”. Sure the mail had already arrived I put up a fight when he asked me to check again. But I did and there he was, at the door. He’d delayed his Italian family trip to spend a few hours with me on Valentines and just a few weeks ago we celebrated our 3rd Valetines, now as a married couple, which is SO much better 🙂

Constance - when i was gone for a year studying abroad in the u.s. ten years ago, i really missed a certain kind of cheese and also knew by the time christmas is around i would miss my very favorit: grandma’s christmas bread. so my mom asked my grandma to make a bread just for me so she could ship it to me. bless her heart with her 88 years of age she made one early so i could have it by december (it needs some time to sit and “ripe”). also my mom bought a really big chunk of cheese and by that i mean big. she wrapped and packed both goodies carefully and send it on its way from germany to chicago. i didn’t know my mom planned this and when i got the package – was really surprised – unpacked it and saw what was sitting inside, i was so touched i started crying. that was really something!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - love love love the big ol’ number 5.
love the shoes.
i clearly need those.
ummm, best mail. . .back when my husband was a youth pastor we were living on a shoestring. we had bills to pay and no money. i asked prayed and asked God if He would somehow give us $100. . . because you know He can do anything.
That afternoon I checked the mail and there was a check for $100 in it. I started bawling. The exact amount I asked for. And God knew ahead of time I would be in need and would ask and He orchestrated someone to provide for our exact need. He’s a crazy extravagant God like that. 🙂

Donna - About 15 years ago, I got a silly little note in the mail and it wasn’t signed. It was also typed (before typewriter fonts were available/popular) on a typewriter. I still haven’t figured out who sent it and noone will fess up. So fun.

A Cupcake For Moose - Special caramel apples from my mother-in-law we get every fall. They are from a little candy shop in her small town. Hubby and I know fall has begun as soon as we bite into one of these sweet delicacies. Who knew you could mail caramel apples!? They always arrive in great condition.
Safe travels! May God bless you, keep you sage and give you joy in abundance!
-Rachel

lynn bray - post cards! i love getting post cards in the mail because it means the sender was gracious enough to think of little ole me while soaking up sunshine somewhere fabulous. 🙂 …thinking of you as you get ready for your trip! Safe travels!

Sally Mangham - I love this give away. I read all the comments…so sweet! The best thing I got in the mail was for my high school graduation…in 1987. My grandmother had passed away several years prior, my parents divorced, and we moved out of state away from our family, so needless to say it was a sad time in life. However, my aunt mailed me a beautiful necklace and on it was my charm from my grandmother’s charm bracelet and a beautiful card. It was a day I will never forget. I am very sentimental.

Lori - One of my favorite pieces of mail was the letter I got from my daughter the first time she went away to summer camp for a week. I had been so worried that she would be too homesick to have fun. Not so!
Have an amazing trip. Can’t wait to hear and see all about it!

Anna - My diploma! I skipped graduation to go to the zoo and it was so fun to get my diploma in the mail.

Lorelei - I have never enjoyed getting mail more than I did from the age of 13-15. I was dating a boy from 45 minutes away, and wrote letters almost every other day. I remember that feeling of butterflies in my stomach as I was hoping and wishing there would be one of his handwritten notes in my mailbox. It was just the best feeling.

Mary Beth - A pillow I bought from YOU…..!

Emily - The best thing in my mailbox… anything addressed to me that doesn’t fit in my mailbox (:
Have a wonderful trip. I, too, will be praying!

Nicole - I moved across the country when I was pregnant and was bummed out that I couldn’t travel back for a baby shower with my family and friends. My sister threw a shower anyway and mailed me all of the gifts and pictures from the party. She is the sweetest 🙂

Megan - Getting unexpected checks in the mail!! It’s always a nice surprise!

meaghan - africa on monday…whoa! best thing in the mail, hmmmmm? love letters from my hubby (then fiance) when he was in amsterdam the week after we got engaged (10 years ago!). ah, young love ; )

Karyn - Can I have two answers? My best friend moved far away when we were 16, and she sent me a scrapbook full of our childhood memories for my next birthday. I passed it back to her last year and we laughed and laughed (31 years of friendship will do that)!
When I was in college, my mom wrote me very often and I loved her letters. During the two years I was living in another province (Canada) I only got one letter from my Dad. I’m pretty sure my Mom made him sit down and write it, and I knew he loved me even without a letter, but just the fact he sent it made it worth so much.
Have a WONDERFUL time in Africa. I spent 6 weeks in Ghana last year and it was life changing. Africa will become a permanent part of your soul. Absorb every last second!!!

Brittany - A birthday package from my parents when I was living in England.

Anna Marie - I love mail in general. I check it all day til it gets here. A long distance friend and I recently starting writing each other. We both write on vintage stationary. I really look forward to those letters.

Ali Richardson - The best thing I ever got in the mail was my marriage certificate. It made the start of our family feel so official 🙂

dawn - I loooove all my fun Etsy packages, but I really miss letters. There have been a few charming boys in my past that used to send me really fun/unique/amusing/cute letters. I ended up marrying one of them — so it’s all good. But I still smile when I think of how exciting it was to find one of their letters in my mailbox!

marie tere - …hmmmm, tough question, recently, a pillow from Meg.

Jennifer O'Steen - My mom always sends me singing cards on holidays since I am away at college. The post office always squished them, so i have to perform some surgeries to make them work, but they always make me smile.

Diana - The best thing I ever got in the mail…. was a birthday card from my oldest son. It was a big deal for me because he had graduated high school a few months before and immediately moved to a completely different town to attend college. I never hinted to him when my birthday was… he remembered on his own. And it arrived in time for me to enjoy it for several days. And it was big. And glittery. And signed with love. And I still have it.
(He’s married with 3 kids and a manager at a big department store.)
♥

Mandy - well the coolest thing recently was this great picture of some sunflowers that I do believe you just might know the photographer! 🙂 any real mail is wonderful from someone is the best. I save ALL of the cards, notes, letters that I receive!

Amy - Perfect timing – the best thing I’ve ever received in the mail just happened this week! I’m a bit of a finance geek, and one of my favorite financial newspaper columnists, Michelle Singletary, was giving away a copy of Thomas J Stanley’s new book “Stop Acting Rich: …And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire.” I sent an email entry a couple of weeks ago, and didn’t think anything more about it. When I saw a package in the mailbox this week from her, it was like a scene straight out of the movie “A Christmas Story” – I had won a “major award.” According to my 10 year old, I shrieked like a teenager when I realized what it was. None of my friends get my love of finance, so they weren’t very impressed with my “major award”. But, I teach a finance class at church, and I’m always looking for new material, so this was pretty exciting stuff to me.
And after typing this, I realize how pathetically lame this must sound to be the best thing I have ever received in the mail. Yes, my name is Amy…and I’m a lame finance geek…and I’m ok with that. 🙂
Have a wonderful and safe trip!

Toni :O) - Love letters from my now husband…going on almost 17 years and I couldn’t be happier. Best mail I ever got. Safe travels and have FUN! Oh, and congrats on being featured in a magazine….of course you’re so cool that it’s well deserved! May God continue to bless you and your sweet family!

Amy Joy - One of the sweetest gifts I received was in college my freshman year. My dad was doing a lot of traveling and he sent me a huge box full of all the travel size shampoos, lotions and mouth washes. He knows I love little things. It meant the world to me!

Dianna - Anything besides bills is good mail to me!

Jenni - PASSPORT! Just in time for a mission trip to India. Praying for your trip…may God prepare you wholly, protect you completely, and bless you eternally for your obedience to go and share the love of Jesus!

Katie - Flowers from my mother-in-law. The flowers are your basic variety – you can pick them up anywhere – but having a mother-in-law who sends them to you just because is really awesome!

Lori - Don’t think I can pick one. In general it would be gifts from my Mema. Packages for every holiday or no holiday at all. So fun. Have already started praying. Can’t wait to hear about the trip!

Sarah @ Dream In Domestic - Wow such beautiful stuff!!
The best thing I ever got in the mail…my acceptance to my school of choice for college. That’s all I can think of right now, but I’m sure there are better things than that…

linda lou - the gifts for you kids are so thoughtful (: that will really help them while your away doing something helpful in another country!!
love the shoes where did you get them??
in the mail today i got elvis presley pj’s that i have wanted for yrs they are so cute they have elvis all over and pink heart buttons on the top. i do have to hem the pant legs way to long but i’m wearing them tonite (:
love and prayers with your family and your group. linda lou

Erin Kirby - The best thing I ever received in the mail were care packages from my Mom when I was away at college. LOVE stuff from Mom. I bet your kids will love what you left them. 🙂

Lisa - The best thing I ever got in the mail… a gift from a friend, just because, not for a birthday, or christmas, but just because she was thinking about me. The best kind of gift.
I LOVE that number 5!
Those shoes are too cute
All the best for Africa.
I am leaving my family for 10 days in April. I love the idea of a gift for every day. Will defiantly try to use that idea.
Bless ya

Messy@Bungalow'56 - The best thing I ever got in the mail was my acceptance to University. It was not my first choice, the first choice had declined the pleasure of accepting me. (Only sixteen spots available in the program.) The second letter from another university was like a balm of goodness. It all worked out and thanks for a 23yr old memory.
Dana

Kara - When I lived in East Asia, my mom would send me cards. They ALWAYS came when I was about to burst into tears from frustration or loneliness! Moms are the best!!

Michelle - When I was in middle school, my Grandparents would mail me Cathy and Garfield cartoons every week since my hometown paper didn’t carry them at the time. Isn’t that the sweetest? Have a great trip Meg! xoxo

maribeth - oh my goodness! how cool is that? hmm, my favorite mail is any mail . . . except bills. i love getting packages in the mail! i would love to find that magazine in my mailbox one day!

mom - I remembered what I wanted to tell you. It was to be sure to take the journal Lorel made you for Christmas and write everything about your trip in it. I see someone else gave you some too. You will be very glad to have it journaled.

MamaMC - A postcard written on a Frisbee!

Karla - My baby sister (in eigth grade, not so much a baby) wrote a poem and sent it to us – snail mail! What 13 year-old does that???

Ashley Chandler - My mom always sends me the best mail- cards, letters, and packages. There have been great ones from summer camp, college days, etc. I’ve been living about 800 miles from my hometown the past couple of years and last year celebrated my Birthday away from home for the first time. My mom sent “a Birthday party in a box” so that my 3 year old could celebrate the day with me. It was full of cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, candles, balloons, paper plates, napkins, and gifts. It was such fun!

purejoy - i had a secret admirer one year with my small group. i would get occasional “love packages” just dropped into my mailbox. kitchen towels one time, fun little decorative cocktail napkins another time. and flowers another time. so fun to get a little random funness.

amy s - a letter that changed our lives,
here is your referral for a 6 year old little girl.

amanda fuentes - My favorite mail was all the letters I got while I was in basic training for the Air Force. A letter from home, especialy from my Dad, just made the time there more bearable.

Tiffany - DVD’s, my two sisters do this thing…”the sisterhood of the traveling dvd’s. we each put a dvd in and watch the two from the other to sisters and write letters about the movies we watched and are sending. It is an endless cycle. I love my sisters and sharing our love for movies with each other.
It is nice to know that there will be a package at my door at least once a month especial for me!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Referral pics for our two international adoptions. Hands down!
Off to check out those shoes…
(still praying.)

Lorilee - Those shoes are SO cute! We do quite a bit of online shopping, so I get some neat stuff in the mail. I guess one of the best has been my clogging shoes! I have been clogging now for 2 years and LOVE it. I will have to look for the magazine locally (if my name isn’t drawn!)
Blessings,
Lorilee

*Alex* - little notes and cards from my Ma & Pops that say they love me “always & all ways”. And this year for my birthday they surprised me with a package that ended up being 25 pink roses (my dad bought them for my mom when she had me) and they wanted to do something for my big 1/4 century. They’re so sweet! 🙂

Leila - Love letters from my husband — when I was in college — and the only other means of communication was the dorm payphone! and boy did people get annoyed if you hogged that. It was a long time ago 😉
Thanks for this giveaway — I came here from Freckled Hen! You have a pretty blog!

Littlevintageme.blogspot.com - Letters of encouragement from my granny while I was in college. She always knew just what to say to make my days brighter and even though she was new in her faith, she still seemed to be full of godly wisdom to impart to me when I was struggling with something. I’ll always hold onto those precious words.

sam - The best thing I get in the mail is “the box”. A long distance friend and I decided to forgo birthday and Christmas gifts and just send a shoe box back and forth throughout the year. There’s no rhyme or reason as to when it may arrive but I am always guaranteed sweet surprises. It may be a new magazine, some wonderfully smelly tea lights, a little seasonal decoration, basically whatever strikes our fancy. The best thing? There is almost always dark chocolate stashed in there somewhere!

Betsy - I LOVE to get mail … (almost) all kinds of mail! I religiously check my mailbox every Monday-Saturday. I love to find something with a handwritten address on it. Lately, my favorite mail has been from my sister/niece. My sister got the idea to send thank you notes from my niece (now 14 months) that are a picture of her playing/wearing/holding a the gift you gave. I LOVE to get these new pictures!
P.S. I have been eyeing this magazine & leaving myself notes to find it as soon as it comes out in stores. It’s right up my alley! Have a wonderful trip. I can’t wait to hear all about it!

Lacey - I am new to the blog world… this year I took part in a blog secret santa swap. The best thing I have every gotten in the mail had to be my gift from my secret blog sants. She sent me so many things that make me happy … it was amazing that she doesn’t even know me but took the time to read my blog and send me things that she knew had to make me happy. It was such a great idea and such an amazing gift!!
I love your blog!! Safe travels on your upcoming adventure!!

sarah - PS. Also glad to see someone sent sunscreen, cause if I hadn’t found the pretty journals I would have sent that for you;)
And those shoes! Adorable!

`Kelly - I get lots of fun mail because my husband is awesome and sends me stuff all the time. Even just cards. And he times them to get here when he knows we have a busy day or week. He’s pretty good. But my most favorite thing I’ve ever gotten was from my dad. When I was a poor struggling college student going to a very expensive Christian college he sent me $100 and told me it was our little secret and I had to use it to have fun. I still have the card he sent it in and it makes me happy.

sarah - I have picked up that magazine in every store I’ve been in recently and never flipped all the way through, I’m sad I didn’t know you were in it. I would have bought it right up immediately! But, maybe I will win your extra copy instead?!!
Best thing I ever got in the mail…
I’d have to say it’s a toss up between my kitchen aid mixer (we registered for back before we got married) I totally didn’t expect anyone to get it. My aunt and uncle live in missouri and couldn’t make it to the wedding, but they sent along my kitchen aid! LOVE IT.
The tie item would be the letters I received from my best friend our 8th grade year when she lived in Hawaii. She lived there for just a year and we wrote each other ALL the time. And it felt somewhat like she hadn’t left because of those letters. I still have them!
I can’t wait to hear about what God does in Africa!!
(Glad the journals arrived before you left! did they print my little 2 part note? )

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - My boys’ birth certificates. It was the joy of them being born all over again!

Angie - A letter stating that my student loan was paid in full!! Have a safe trip!

Liz - Handwritten letters from my brother who was a Marine in active combat during the Persian Gulf Wars. Back in the day when e-mail and internet were not as accessible as they are today, those letters were HUGE for us.
Have a blessed trip!

BriBedell - My mattress 🙂 lol hahaha Have a safe and wonderful trip! Can’t wait until you get back so we can read and see your pictures!

Lori Danelle - Being in Nashville, TN, I’m just a little far away from my hometown & family in Newton, KS. So when I was pregnant with my first child, my Aunt organized a baby shower in a box for me, having so many of my family members pitching in. It had confetti and everything!! I remember feeling so loved even though I was so far away!

Rebekah - When I was about 6 my mom went on a mission trip to Jamaica and she left little notes and gifts for my brother and me to open every day while she was gone. I still remember how fun that was for me, though I don’t recall what any of the presents were. 🙂 My parents have been career missionaries in West Africa for 20 years, now. I will be praying for you as you go.

Val - Post cards from my brother in jail. I like hearing from him when he is sober… which sadly only seems to happen when he is in jail or rehab =(

Jane - My husband and I dated long distance for a while. During that time he wrote me the most amazing love letters. Best mail ever.

Angel/TaDa! Creations - Oh wow, love that you are in that magazine! And please, please, please tell us where you found those awesome ruffle shoes.

Sierra - My first semester of undergrad, a group of nuns I didn’t know sent me a big box of stuff including food, a frisbee, a yoyo, and $20. It was awesome.

Lee Ann - a package of scrapbook do-dads from…..YOU!!!!!

Kate - Letters. I love letters!
I’ll be praying for a safe, safe trip!

jeanne - HELLO…pick me!!! I have looked everywhere for this. Please, please, please….I beg and have no pride:-)

tricia - A postcard from an old friend with a picture of him and his son. That was nice!!

Christina - Care packages from my mom when I went to camp! I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Sarah Krekow - Letters from my Grandma. We’ve been penpals eversince I can remember and I always look forward to an envelope with her bubbley handwriting on it. Have a wonderful and more importantly,SAFE trip Meg!

Heather - It was college and a boy — a wandering boy without much money. We became friends during his stopover in my hometown out west, and then he moved on. A few weeks later I got a big box on my doorsgtep. I couldn’t imagine what it was since he was living hand to mouth at that time. He had made it to New England and had sent me a box full of autumn leaves in blazing reds and oranges and yellows. He wished I was there to see it with him. It was amazing. I still have them, even though they are dusty and faded…

Shelly Primm - Handwritten letters from my best friend. Meg, I will be praying for you and your group while you are away.

Mrs. - Mr. sends me love letters from the office. It is always unexpected and delightful. Pick me, I could use some inspiration on the recession budget! Safe, safe, safe travels.

Courtney Walsh - My best friend sent me popcorn balls a couple of weeks ago…no joke they were so happy and fun and colorful… it was definitely a good mail day! 🙂
Praying for you, Meg!

Angie Parks - Gosh the best thing I got in the mail. Probably cards from my frined from California. We send each other cards. she sends me die cuts and pics. We keep in thouch that way. Have a safe trip.

Sandy - Birthday cards with loving messages from my dad (still and I turned 44 last Sunday).

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