If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

Oh my goodness!  I don't even know where to begin.  I am so excited and I am so proud to tell you that Andy has his own iPhone and iPad app.  I can't believe it!  He has 50,000 followers on his blog and he now has his own app.  Crazy!  I'm so very proud of him!  So, just go to the iTunes App Store and search for Andy Braner and it will pull it up and then you can download it for FREE!  (Believe me, I begged him to charge $1.49 because I was seeing the dollar signs as 50,000 bought the app. . .he opted for free, though.)  So, go do it!  And as a bonus, my blog is linked on his app so it is almost like I have my own app!  What are you waiting for?  Go!  Go!  Go!!!

What?  The best year of my life?  I know, crazy.  But let me explain.  I was a camper at a summer camp for 12 summers.  Each summer I would go for a month at a time.  So, I spent 12 months as a camper at summer camp growing up as a child. . .which means that summer camp was the best year of my life!  Yes, I lived at a summer camp.  Yes, I breathed summer camp.  Yes, my entire life from the night I was born (my dad actually missed my birth because he was on a summer camp sponsored ski trip) until this very moment has been totally consumed with summer camp.  But I'm not talking about those months and years when I wasn't a camper, I want to talk about those 12 months (one month each summer from the time I was five) when I was actually a camper. . .the best 12 months of my life. Why am I talking about summer camp?  Well, today Andy is doing this continual blog thing and he has asked different friends of his to write about his or her e...

I cannot believe April is here.  I realize that I say that almost every month, but this time I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart!  April means so many things. . .sun and warm weather and blue skies and flowers (and yucky dust storms). . .but mostly it means that I have got to get moving on camp things. . .lots and lots of camp things! So, here is what my April looks like.  There are many days without Andy which is sad, but we need to get some campers to Kivu, so it is necessary.  You will also notice that there are no Zumba classes or Body Sculpting classes on the calendar this month.  Apparently I am going to slim down and get toned by staying at home and eating double stuff Oreos.  Who am I kidding?  I only went to one of each class in March, so I'm just assuming that I probably won't make one in April.  Oh well.  Good intentions!  Andy and I also have two fun "get away" times planned that I am thrilled about!  Next w...

Part of me highly recommends it (retail therapy, that it) and part of me does not.  I don't recommend it daily, but sometimes it just helps to buy something!  (I hope Andy isn't reading this post today.)  I headed to a store to get Andy some coffee for his Keurig coffee maker this morning and that store just happens to be right across the hall from Pier One. . .so I went in.  Then I found these dishes.  Then I walked around the store away from these dishes.  Then I walked back to these dishes.  Then I bought these dishes.  Retail therapy!  I felt so much better afterwards. . .better from what?  Who knows, just better! :) Actually, we did need dishes.  I have my "wedding dishes" which are gorgeous and beautiful and which we never use and then I left myself with one other set before the move. . .and needless to say, every bowl is cracked or chipped (some past the point of holding milk) and every plate is slowly going in that direct...

Oh my, this thank you is overdue.  So sorry.  I just wanted to give a quick shout out to those of you who brought the Braner's meals after Hays's crash.  I actually felt like I lived back in Missouri with all of the thoughtfulness that you all showed!  Thanks for spoiling me (us)!  I have to give the biggest shout out to Lorrie who brought HOMEMADE OREO ICE CREAM as a part of the meal.  Oh my goodness!  I think that is my favorite food and we have been savoring it!  Today it is almost gone and I gave my kids the smallest ration so that we could have it for one more day!  Thank you!

I bought Dax a DVD called "Happiness Is A Warm Blanket" yesterday. . .starring, of course, Linus.  We haven't watched it yet (I think he's a little embarrassed), but I am planning on watching it soon.  This picture of Linus has always been one of my favorites (probably common among past thumb suckers) and it holds an even more special place in my heart since I have my own thumb sucker who carries around (not as often anymore) a blue blanket.  My thumb sucker is a little more grown up now, but still my little guy.  Happiness is many many things, but I would say that a warm blanket would be on that list!

So, why the new header (again)?  Well, in light of my last post and because I absolutely LOVE daffodils in the Spring time, I thought I'd give my header a fresh update!  One of my favorite things about Spring is to see the daffodils bravely blooming at the first hint of warm weather.  They are so bright and cheery and happy!  I love them!  So, happy Spring (even though it is still cold and snowy here)!