We had our New Beginning's Night this past week. The girls did an amazing program for their parents. I was given the honor of making the girl's gift. I thought of many different ideas of something that might mean something to them and that could express the theme for this year and this is what I came up with.... A Light House in a Lantern. It was pretty easy to make once I figured out how to light it. The Light House is two terra cotta pots glued and painted red and white as you can see in the picture. the windows were drawn on with a black sharpie. The glass candle jars I picked up at The Dollar Store. I used 16 and 18 gauge wire to create the handle. The 18 to wrap around the jar and the 16 for the handle itself. The light is hidden by the bow which I used floral wire to tie and attach to the finger light. Finger Lights come in a package of three that are blue, red and green. You can find them at Michael's in the kid area. I used the sharpie to paint them black. They have an elastic band on them that you will use by placing the light on the handle and pulling the elastic around the wire and over the light so it is attached to the wire handle. You will place the bow on the light to hide the light itself. I didn't think ahead or I would have taken pictures of each step. After getting everything attached I put sand and sea-shells around the light house in the jar. I forgot to mention I made a tag of the Arise and Shine Forth which was attached to each jar as you can see from the picture. The girls really seemed to love them and it was a lot of fun being creative when my mind needed a rest from work and the trials life!

Thoughts of Kayla and school

3/13/2010 So It looks like February flew by and I didn't make it on here to post.... work is still busy as ever but they hired a temp to help answer phones so I'm not putting in crazy hours anymore. I like having more time with Kayla and Erik. Kayla will be receiving her graduation announcements next week. hard to believe that it's almost that time. I only have a few short months left before she goes off to college. She is leaning towards going down to Snow College. I guess we best get looking into the housing arrangements soon so she has a place to live.
We are planning a graduation trip for Kayla down the West Coast. Starting up in Canada and driving down to Cali. not sure how far down we will get in the two weeks that we have planned to be gone. It will depend on when the money runs out. I'm looking forward to seeing my older brother John and introducing Erik to him for the first time. he wants us to stay a few days in Washington at his place which we are planning on doing. it's been I think about 6 or maybe even 7 years since I seen him last. I haven't seen Dixie for 15 years now. that will have to be another trip to the East. It's a good thing I love to travel so much. the only problem is coming up with all the money to travel.

4/24/2010 It looks like I got real busy that last few weeks of the tax season... The season has come to an end and talk about work being slow is an understatement Monday and Tuesday were okay but the rest of the week dragged because of the lack of work I didn't have. Next week should be better because I have a few projects to start on and the partner will be back from vacation where he plenty of time to think of new things that need to get taken care of. Since I last wrote Kayla has gotten her class schedule put in for the Fall semester and the last thing we need to get taken care of is housing. she wants to be off campus and Erik and I are thinking for this year she needs to be on campus where we know she'll have food and a safe place to stay or as safe as safe can be I guess; plus it's a lot cheaper on our pocket book as well. I forgot to say where Kayla finally decided to go to college. And the winner is SNOW COLLEGE!!! I loved it at Snow when I went so I know she will do well down there. while arranging her schedule I noticed a lot of the teacher I enjoyed are still there and a friend of hers has taken classes from them this year and told Kayla how good they are as well. I'm still not sure I like the field that she wants to out in but I'll deal with it and support her all that I can. it's a good field so don't get me wrong I just will worry about her safety all the time. She wants to go into CSI work or the FBI more in the science field. I sure as heck wouldn't want to see all that sick crap that goes on in the world.
On a lighter note Kayla has just over a month left of school and I'm so proud of the thins she has accomplished these last few years. She is growing up to be a beautiful young woman. It's taken her a while to come out of the shy little girl shell she was in to making new friends and to even get in trouble for anything at all in school. So the worst thing my daughter did in 12 years of school that got her after school detention just last week was being two minutes late for her first period class on a day they did a hall sweep. Erik thinks Senoritis has set in though because she ask him if she could skip her forth period class the other day and all he said to her was what would your mom say and she went back to school after she grabbed some lunch. I always tell her it's up to her and not once have been disappointed in the choices she has made. How did I get so lucky to raise such a kind and caring child? I hope she doesn't go crazy on me when she gets out on her own; the whole not working while in high school may be a challenge for her and how to budget her money and schedule her time around school, work and studying. Well I better getting to doing the things I need to get done today.

A New Year!

Well tax season is upon us again here in the Brown home. where does the time go? I guess I'm really just not the writer that my husband is. I find it hard to get on here to update friends and family. It is a goal of mine to write at least once a month this year and beings that it's the start of the last week in January I best get to writing or typing as the case my be.
This month has been crazy with work already. It seems to be busier at work then it was last year at this time. I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks because it seems once the W2's and 1099 statements are received the calls start coming in for appointments. I love the rush of staying busy at work. I don't mind the late nights at all but that could have something to do with the fact that I get out of having to cook dinner every night. I love that Kayla and Erik both take such good care of me during this time of year. I feel a little guilty sometimes that I don't do enough paying back during the off season; that's something I have to work on this year.
I have so much to look forward to this coming year. Kayla has been getting her college applications turned in; which has Erik worried about finances and how we are going to pay for her to go to college. I on the other hand am not too worried about it I know things will work out. I have faith that my prayers will be answered. Maybe it comes from having so much more now in life then when I was struggling as a single mom for most of Kayla's life. Really it's because I'm a glass half full person and can always see the plus side to things. I get that from my dad.
Speaking of my dad it's been 15 years this month that he passed away. I find myself thinking about him more lately. Remembering the little things that made him so special to me and knowing in my heart that he is happy in the choices I have made the past few years. I see myself becoming more like him, but also knowing I have a long way to go before I'm as good at giving of myself and time as he was. I miss him so much.
So to recap this year I want to work on staying in touch more with friends and family by posting on here once a month and serving others especially Erik and Kayla.

Spring Cleaning

So I started my spring cleaning today because 1) It needed to be done and 2) I don't know what else to do but work on Saturdays after working so many with tax season. I think I would rather be filing papers, answering calls and mailing returns then washing walls. The plus side to the clean walls in the entryway is I need to go shopping now because there is no way I'm putting the old curtains back on the front door. I really need a shower right about now but I can't do that until I clean the bathroom so I decided to take a small break and check email's and post on here about my day. I'm hoping to get Erik to take me to dinner and a movie tonight. It can be a cheap date beings I still have gift cards from work for dinner and a movie. I'll have to see if he will be up to it after spending the day at the studio and his back hurting as it has been. I better get moving if I want that shower I guess.

Hawaii

Erik, Kayla and I made it to Hawaii back in December for our Christmas. I am just finely getting the pictures up. Hope you all enjoy them.

Hawaii Trip part 1

Hawaii Trip part 2