My sister's family

I went home to visit my family last weekend and during my visit we did a little photo shoot. After we took the family picture we went downtown to do the kids individual shots. These are just a few of the images that I captured. Aren't they cute??

my cousin Marc's wedding

The last of my baby cousins got married this weekend. I wish him a world of joy and happiness!

Owen is here!!

He is so handsome!




My friend Megan and her husband Colby are doing great as well. They are so proud of their new bundle of joy and are ready to get him home. I have a feeling that he will be spoiled will all kinds of love and attention. I can't wait to be a part of it!

Owen is almost here!

One of my closest friends is due on May 28th and I can barely stand it. I can't wait to meet him and tell him how lucky he is to have Megan and Colby as his parents. Hurry up Owen!!

Heartstrings Community Foundation

I volunteer for an organization called Heartstrings and love every minute of it! Heartstrings Community Foundation is a local business that employs developmentally disabled adults and assists them in living independent and productive lives. I knew a few friends that worked there before I started voluntering but have met many more . Please check out their website to learn more about this awesome group. If you would like to learn more about volunteering or donating to the organization please let me know as well because we are currently planning different fundrasing events and would love to have you there! Oh.. and if you would like to learn more about a goodie deliver team at your place of employment let me know.



Today we had a photoshoot of the goodie delivery team that comes to my work every Wednesday. I will be taking more of the rest of the employess but I wanted to share a few of these images with you now. (back row: Rita and Pat front row: Jack and Erin)

Let me introduce you to Erin . Erin is a sweetheart and has the most beautiful smile. Her giggle is so contagious I look forward to it every week.

This gentleman is Pat. Everyone looks forward to seeing Pat every week because of his big smile and amazing complements.

This young lady is Rita. Ms. Rita is very eager to help and suggests some awesome treats. (unfortunatly I can not say no to these treats and my thighs are the proof left behind...speaking of behind... it is proof as well)

We are currently trying to find walkers/runners to sign up for the Hospital Hill Run. If you would like to sign up to walk/run for Heartstrings, or support one of the current runners with a donation it would be greatly appriciated. You can contact me via email at brums1175@gmail.com .

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter... Easter baskets, Mass to celebrate the risen Lord, egg hunting and a BBQ. Madison thought that the bunny didn't make it this year, but finally found her basket behind the TV stand so all was well. I would post images of the basket hunting but the "pajamas" she wore that night were not appropriate for posting. We actually dyed the eggs after lunch instead of early this year... Maddie just "loves" the vinegar smell in the coloring. Why do I feel the need to "keep" "doing" "this"? See the framed picture of us on the mantle? It was our first Easter together, and this is our 4th.. I look forward to many more. Thank you Lord for all that you have done and given for us.

I'll call soon

I'll call soon. How many times have we said those words? Those words are making me ache, those words are making me cry over and over, those words...

Six years ago I was in the mortgage industry. I was approached by a company to have my own office in Manhattan, Ks. and get so much business I wouldn't know what to do with. The company had signed a contract with some builders in a neighboring town with a Military base. At that time the base was expanding with thousands of soldiers pouring in and of course they were going to need housing. I was so excited! I was going to have this business to get me going while I built relationships with Realtors. I was going to have this business to pay off my past and the poor decisions I had made along the way. This was finally it for me, something was going to finally work out.

And so I began my search for the perfect office suite.... I found it! It had two big windows and it's own bathroom... bonus. I asked if I could paint the walls because the stark white staring back at me didn't feel very welcoming. I wanted my clients to feel at home and relaxed while making all of the important choices refinancing or buying that home that they had wanted for so long. Cafe' au lait! perfect! I spent a day getting it just right, re-arranging my desk and waiting.

The day I finished painting my office I was told that the "contract" didn't happen and I was going to have to try and start from scratch...just me...no help. I remember sitting there that day thinking what have I done? I quit my job, my hourly comfortable, every two weeks a check in my account job? And I cried.. a lot. Half way through that day I looked up and saw Jerry.

Jerry was the Farmers insurance guy across the hall. He had beautiful white hair and a smile...oh that smile it would light up a room. Jerry also made one mean cup of coffee. Half calf half decaf Caines coffee. He asked me if I would like a cup and of course I really needed a drink, but since it was 11am I decided the caffeine would have to do the trick. I sat in his office and we instantly became friends.

Throughout the next few months Jerry saw me cry quite a few more times and he would just smile that smile and tell me a story about his life to cheer me up. Stories about when he was a professional pool player and then Jerry told me about when he found Christ and how good it felt, and how real it felt. He would pray with me, and for me and it felt good. I drank a lot more coffee than I should have, but it gave me an excuse to sit and talk about anything with Jer. And when I would leave to walk across the hall he would always say... no matter what I do know one thing. You are lookin' ,sharp, sharp, sharp.

After the last empty promise from my company slipped through the cracks, I picked myself up and moved out of my office. I would still talk to Jerry, but our talks got further and further apart. The last time I talked to Jerry was around eight or nine months ago. Today I tried to call his office and a woman answered the phone. I asked for Jerry and she put me on hold. After a few minutes she came back and asked me if I had an insurance question, and I said no I just noticed Jerry's name wasn't on my statements anymore. She paused and said I am sorry but he passed away right before Christmas. I couldn't get any words to come out, only tears. She said she was sorry that I had to find out that way. I said thank you and goodbye.

I walked out of my office and drove home. My heart hurts I can't stop crying and I am tired. But one thing keeps popping into my head and that is the last time that Jerry and I talked. I had to call about an insurance question...we talked for around half an hour but I had to get back to work. Jerry said it's okay kid I know you are busy but there is one thing for sure... I bet you are lookin' sharp, sharp, sharp.. I giggled and said I wished we could talk longer and I'll call soon.

I'll call soon...I'll call soon... soon never happened. What a way to learn a lesson.

Make those calls, tell them how much you care, how much they mean to you.

And Jerry, please look down and know how much you meant to me and I know one thing for sure... You are up in Heaven lookin' sharp, sharp, sharp.