grateful

For a long time now I have wanted to create a grateful journal for myself.  Since I have felt that I have been slacking lately on praying and thanking God for the wonderful things in my life I thought that having a grateful journal may help me keep up to date.  Those who know me really well know that I cannot just go out and buy a journal but I have to put my creative touch on it.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the cover but trust me it was not pretty.  I just looked for a journal that had blank pages, as in no lines which will give me the ability to also use my grateful journal as a sketchbook.

I added a little bit of padding to the cover because there was a bumpy design on it that I did not care for.

Measuring out for size just like I did in Elementary school to cover books with paper bags.

Final product.

The inside cover and a blank canvas.

Some new colored pencils to create things in my journal.

I have also had the creative bug in me lately to make a new wreath for our front door.  In all honesty, I replaced the Easter wreath (which happened to be about two weeks ago).  My goal was to make something that would both be springish and summery and then I thought about adding a nautical feel to it.  The ribbon happened to be buy 2 get 1 free which is perfect because it takes three rolls for one wreath.  The flowers were also 50% off which is huge because they are so expensive.  

Have you ever kept a grateful journal?  Do you have any tips for keeping up to date with it?

how sweet it is

how sweet it is to be loved by you.  you brighten each of my days, even if you are sick.  i love so many things about you:
how much life you have in you
the love and energy you have with bman
you want to try the most random food creations
the way you cuddle into all the blankets to make them a cocoon
that you always want to pick a flower for my hair
all of the creative names you come up for me
your love of movies and trivia
the way you interact with our nieces and nephews
i love so many things about you it would take a lifetime to list them all
i love you for picking me to love

December 2009 Brave New Workshop

December 2010 at a Chiefs game.  they lost and we froze but had a great time

January 2014

2010 4th of July

Minnesota State Fair

April 2012 at Disneyworld

2011 St. Louis Festival of Lanterns

November 2013 St. Augustine, FL

February 2014 Snowstorm

Bathsheba, Barbados 2012 Honeymoon

12.02.12

April 2014 Sea World

Orlando 2014

Every now and then it is nice to get away for a short trip.  Trust me when I say that vacationing for 8 days in Orlando was desperately needed!  Work has been absolutely insane (more on that in the future) and I have missed spending time with my wonderful husband.

We had absolutely marvelous weather... until about 6:00 PM our very last day there.  Instead of hitting up Disney like the good majority of people that go to Orlando, we chose to go to Universal again.

Woody Woodpecker @ Universal

Harry Potter World @ Universal

Something that my folks did during their last visit to Orlando was an air-boat tour.  Derek had done one in high school but didn't remember it much so we thought it would be a good time.  We ended up checking out Wild Florida Airboats and had a great time with our guide Dennis.  They were located about an hour outside of Orlando but well worth the drive!  While they are still developing their facilities and adding animals it was nice that there were animals to check out before the tour.

I'm a sucker for trees

I love him and our poor sunglasses reflections

I love all the texture and contrast of light and dark in this photo

These little guys were too funny, butting heads for close to ten minutes

This beast is called a Watusi, he looks tiny here but in person was enormous

Cow crossing on the air-boat tour

Spectacular views from the tour

 Finally, our last thing we did was Sea World.  I was probably the most excited about this because the last time I went was probably three years old.  There is a lot of controversy about Sea World but I absolutely loved it.  We ended up taking a behind-the-scenes tour to see what all goes on where guests don't normally get to visit.

The tour was great!  It ended up being a lot about their conservatory work, helping injured or stranded animals, and what they do to get the animals back into their natural habitats.  We loved getting to see manatees, dolphins, and some penguins that regular guests would not get to see.  Next time, probably the arctic tour to high five a walrus! 

SEA WORLD!!!!

I never knew that dolphins were so BIG

Petting a shark

We didn't get to see the Antarctica penguins (mostly because we didn't want to stand in line) but we did get to see these Magellan penguins that are separated because of the habitat temperature they are accustomed to living in.  Much to my surprise they felt like rubber even though 70-80 of their feathers are within the size of a quarter.

Petting a Magellan Penguin

For years I have adored sea turtles.  Of the large ones Sea World had, they were all rescues.  There was one that had been attacked by a shark.  Another that had gotten a disease in their shell and become paralyzed in its hind flippers.  We missed what happened to the third but they were all so adorable and active.

TURTLE!!!!!

 They had four pilot whales that were abandoned by their pod of 25.  The government has determined they would not survive without Sea World which means they have a new home.

Pilot Whale rescue

Amazing jumpers

 We unfortunately did not get to see the Shamu show as it began to downpour with thunder and lightening.  Sitting in the soak zone and close enough to see where the whales were playing around before the show was supposed to start we did get to enjoy seeing them.  They were so funny and were doing jumps and flips acting as though they wanted to perform.  When the weather really turned sour we had all of the sudden seen 8-10 trainers running out to get the whales attention to feed them and try to get them back into their bigger pool.  It was sad we didn't get to see the show but great to see how attentive and caring the employees were to the whales.  Until next time Sea World!  Next time we know to buy more than a one day pass!

The only view of the Orcas we got to see :(