Shout out for pancakes!

                                          
                            Hello all! Today is National Pancake Day!

 I didn't realize there even was such a day until last night and since I am working today, we'll (Rhoda & I) will have to wait to celebrate 'till tomorrow. We will mix up some batter in the morning and then we can fry a pancake whenever we want, morning, noon, or night.... perhaps we'll make some fresh, warm, buttery, blueberry muffins to go with it..... If you think this sounds good, you can come over and we would be happy to feed you! :)

A happy list (in words)

Today I was feeling like doing a sort of happy blog post and I was thinking of all the thing I could/would put on the list so here goes......

• Getting roses from my brother & another friend for valentines
• Getting a post card from Pam at  Gospel For Asia telling me how she prayed for me that God would be the strength of my life
• The filled cupcakes that my sister made... they were divine!
• Practicing new songs for the youth group chorus tour
• The email I received from a dear cousin.  I cried at the way she prayed for me... such encouraging words they were...
• I got to spend all day friday with my sister Naomi! (even though we were working an hour away at an unfamiliar store :)
• My new favorite quote; We are loved more than we will ever know by Someone who died to know us.
• Wonderful, inspiring biographies like "The cross & the switchblade"
• Turning on the radio & hearing my favorite song(which is currently What a Savior by Laura Story...hint: if you want to make me really happy, you could buy me her Blessings album...:)
• Knowing that I have a God who cares even when it seems as though no one understands
• Feeling inspired to write songs after reading The cross and the switchblade
• Having wonderful, deep, enlightening, learning, conversations late at night (or early in the morning)with sisters! (every girl should have these:)

Here are a few things that make me extra happy... What is something that is making you feel extra blessed or happy today? I'd love to hear about it!

This is to let you all know about a fabulous giveaway that is going on over on this blog!  Seriously folks, I just came across it this afternoon and was so super excited to see that she's giving away a $20 amazon giftcard!! Please check it out :) it ends Feb. 25 and you can do multiple entries!

A weekend in Texas

Last week on Friday my family & I left for Texas. The plan was to surprise my aunt Karen for her 50th birthday, it worked quite well! :) We got there in the afternoon while she was gone and when she returned... there we were!  I don't actually have any pictures of her expression when she saw us although it was quite picture-worthy..:) My aunt Wanda was gonna fly into Dallas and get there about the same time we did but because of weather her flight was rescheduled and she didn't get there till around midnight! We were still up and she was a huge surprise to Karen! :)

us girls around 11:00 pm. waiting patiently for Will & Wanda to get there.... (My cousin Will picked her up at the airport)

Aunt Karen and her "curly girl hair book".... there is a story... a lot of us girls in this family line have curly hair and so Karen had purchased this book with plans to learn about "controlling her hair", this book was consulted/referred to quite often over the weekend :)

Saturday, us girls went shopping,  & we also went to Orange Leaf to taste their amazing frozen Yogurt! Quite heavenly I tell you!...

   My cousin Alex & his sweet girlfriend, Kassidy!  It was a pleasure to meet her for the first time...

                       Wanda & Victoria, Karen kept getting their names confused all weekend :)

All of us around the table for Sunday lunch, 

                                              Karen and her cake.. (look sideways... :)

                                                 This lady is my aunt Wanda! :)

                                                            Tess and Rhoda

This was my first time in Texas & I think it is very beautiful (but I haven't been there in the hot summer yet, so maybe I wouldn't like it as well then..:)  I had a really good weekend and I am thankful for wonderful family to spend time with!