InstaFriday

Happy Friday, y'all!  What a whirlwind of a week (or two, for that matter)...  Not only am I completely in the busiest time of my work-year as an invitation designer, but I have busy big kids who are have spent the week at track meets and baseball practices in addition to packing for 8 days on Spring Break mission trips.  Two out of three of them are on their way to serve in different locations.  So that's two pack lists, two different climates, two different departure times, two different departure locations, and one crazy mom.  Here's the recap of my week in phone pics.  Here we go!

In the last three weeks, I have ordered imported Thai silk boxes, individual Swarovski crystals, pearl and rhinestone buckles, crystal buttons, hand-made patterned envelope liners, shipping boxes, bubble mailers, ribbon, 500 yards of adhesive tape, kraft labels, scalloped labels, custom stamps, and twine.  I have been in regular contact with three calligraphers, an illustrator in Savannah, a printer in Maine, a printer in Massachusetts, a supplier in Colorado, and brides from Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkansas, and New York. Remember that part about being the "busiest time of my work-year"?  I'm winded just from typing all of that.  Whew.

We have birds.  And lots of them.  And they are particularly fond of nesting in the corners of our covered deck.  Last year, their home of choice was right on top of the white outdoor speak (on the right).  And this year, they've upgraded their locale to the top of Sam's television.  And in his usual "go big or go home" manner, he bought an owl from Amazon to guard the deck.  It has worked, NOT to ward off birds, but rather to scare the living daylights out of us because we forget he's up there.  (Reminds me of the many times that we were startled by our full-sized, cardboard cut-out of Justin Bieber.  That's another story.)

Here they are..."The Wolf Pack".  This is Grace (second from the right) and her group of girlfriends who spend every waking moment together, and if they're not together then they're texting or talking or tweeting.  We packed them up and took them to the airport this morning at 4am (ok, SAM took her to the airport at 4am) and sent them on their way to love and serve orphans in Guatemala for Spring Break. Neat girls. 

Our agreement was for Sam to take Grace early this morning, and I would get the boys up and take them school.  And when I was doing my makeup, I couldn't find the brown eye liner that Grace and I often share.  So I tweeted some smack-talk that she had taken it with her.....and then I found it on my counter.  Oops.   Then this text exchange happened immediately after...

 Isn't she precious? She loves me so much.

Y'all please be praying for Grace and Luke (who is serving in inner-city Memphis) and all of the other teenagers, families and adults who are on mission trips this week.  And I hope everyone has a safe Spring Break - whatever your plans! I'll see y'all back here Monday! xo