shhhhh.....sharing a secret....

hello to all who read...
i am sharing a secret here... for blog readers only...and really it's just a hint...i have a little project and you will have to try and guess but the news is exciting... and i have a good reason to share... so enjoy the new graphics for now...and maybe more later...

all my love to bebek, sam ...

meet my brothers....

hello to all who read...
i have seen through emails, texts, and the ever popular facebook that everyone has had wonderful visits this week and we have as well...the conversation at the dining room table definately lived up the expectations that we now have...funny stories as usual and more talk of stories to come once the mandatory time has expired for parental irritation... and so once again we laughed...
and so to meet my brothers....how very different we all are but isn't it neat how you know that you have come from the same family...the things that are similar are VERY similar...obviously not in height...
so John...to the left...accomplished musician and bandmember of snozberry of memphis, almost finished with all school student, and about to commit to the national guard a week from yesterday to hopefully enter pilot training to take his own steps although following my dad's footsteps at the same time...a very smart, driven, talented person...John amazes me with his commitment, convictions, and loyalty...he and i both have completed bathroom mirror goals and share a bond of complete understanding...although not having lived in the same city for the past almost 14 years there is an amazing amount of understanding there for the few conversations we seem to be able to muster over the distance...we are very different in our dimeanor but so much alike in our quiet moments...great resolve and we know what we want out of life...
to john...you are a beautiful person...i appreciate your loyalty to me and to our family- you contribution is valued, your personality cherished for exactly how you are- not more or less, and your goals and talents are supported by me. i love you dearly and love that we share the gift of being siblings...

and jamie...on the right...also an accomplished musician in snozberry, business owner, valeo marketing and design, absolute genuis in web design and marketing (www.valeomarketing.com)...brilliant mind -driven by goals and his intellect- jamie is thriving in the small business world. responsible for so much of bbtn's website although it would not be his choice of how to do things (girly and frilly).... jamie and i are alot alike outwardly but his hair is better than mine - how fair is that??? we both are very extroverted and love life and people (john does too just not as extroverted)...needless to say Jamie is committed and loyal as well...giving everything he does all he has and more...

to jamie...you are amazing and i am amazed at you...we are close in a "we both run a business but not in the same city kindof way"....we always pick up right where we left off...thank goodness for blackberry technology ...i love that you are happy in your relationship and i appreciate your humor and i value you in my life...

to you both...i love you and look forward to many years of laughs, family memories, and seeing what happens in both of your lives...

my love to my brothers, bebek, sam

grateful for....

hello to all who read...
isn't it interesting how there is one day that everyone stops to realize what they have to be grateful for or maybe it isn't that way between those who read but talking about the general population- the travel traffic was more than crazy today...while i think it is a good thing...and definately cause for a celebration...family and friends together....it makes me, and my quirky self, kindof pensive...in a good way...and maybe that is the purpose for me...

i really hope we don't wait that long...to give your very best effort in a meal for family, to have them over even, to use fine china and breakable glasses (you know the ones with dust on them that leave a ring, not tumblers folks)...to travel to see company, to take time off, to thank God for what you have...i mean the gratefulness that leaves you speechless on your knees in front of Almighty God......we all need all 365 days this year to praise a creator that continues to bless us even though we are more than wretched...the list of things that i am grateful for is absolutely endless...and the reasons i am wretched are even more endless...to be certain, i am grateful for God's mercy and his love...

while i know that it is life and human certainly to take days for granted and even people and blessings...but let Thanksgiving for me be a fabulous visit with family, a small meal in light of bathroom mirror goals, wonderful words between special and loved ones...and a meter for checking my gratefulness yearound...

someone asked me recently what my favorite holiday memory is... and my answer included Thanksgiving day...dinner with my family...the funny thing is that this memory because a favorite just a few years ago...my brothers and i started sharing stories of things we had "gotten away with" during the years that we all lived either under my parents' roof or in college...of course there are some things left unsaid (for a few more years) but there are so many funnies that are now safe to share...try it!! I hope your family will laugh or your Thanksgiving may turn out a little different than ours...be careful what your share dear ones...

precious Sam...you got good news today!! you are precious, strong, and loved
Bebek...you might as well be my sister...i love you...

needed moments and wanted moments...

hello to all...second attempt at posting with pictures...lots of them as usual...

a precious moment with my little - unsolicited even...how do they know when you need a hug...or just a moment that makes it all worth it...the eight loads of laundry, the endless meals and cleaning up...of course when we have quality time i realize right away that all else fades...coloring for instance...such a simple thing that matters not in the way of accomplishments...she usually just turns the page after working so diligently on a certain page never to look again...but the time spent is such a wonderful investment and i wouldn't trade the unfinished projects and as a result not any of the meals prepared or messes cleaned up...who cares...my investment is in her little mindset, in his mindset...just being there...for a quick "thumbs up" at basketball can make the whole day's investment completely worth it...i know i cannot be the only one that feels that way, that has to be the reason why we do it every day...just my thoughts today....
blessings until next time....and to little Sam - you are so strong...i love you bebek!

a few words and lots of pictures...

a day with all of the littles to be sure...
veteran's day as you know so logan was home...what a treat to have a "used to be this way" day...the three of us met amelia and her littles for lunch at the soda shop (at mt laurel of course) and then to the park for some "wear them out so they will sleep time"...
we enjoyed the weather and watching our children play...i am inundating you once again with pictures but what a fun backdrop it was today with the leaves....it will be awhile before there is color again so enjoy...
all of my love and thoughts and prayers of course to bebek and sam...i know you are having a rough week....

thoughts for today...about today....

hello to those who read...
have you ever just really been grateful for a day? have you ever looked around and paid attention to the people you come in contact with...ignored the normal and realized what it means to not take people for granted.

today was one of those days...i was surrounded and talked to wonderful people who really care about what happens during their day. i had great conversation, had the freedom to express appreciation and love to those around, and just plain decided I am not taking today and what it brought for normal activity.

what is normal anyway? is a normal day one that you end with dreams after just going through the motions?- did you think you did alot today and feel satisfied with that?or was it one that you knew you took every opportunity to tell those you hold dear that you love them...and do everything realizing that it was wonderful we were able to do it...

what about all of the time that we have...i am resolved not to let it pass by today without using it...not just passing it. i don't always feel that way...some days i wish time would go much faster..either because of the hurdles that come at different times or because i have for some reason decided that it wasn't important.

time is so very important...the impact that it can have is all we have...temporal of course here but with great potential for the eternal...but whether it means acts of service for those around, accomplishing a goal, encouragement or just plain loving those who are important in your life. time is all we have and when we realize how precious it is it makes you question if you used it wisely. the sad thing is that we forget that it may be limited and maybe that's why we don't use it like we would if we kept that thought in the forefront of our minds.

do i use my time wisely? do i love deeply and without reservation? do i enjoy those around for whatever reason depending on their relationship? i believe so...i have no regrets. from ceda at the fabric company, to my favorite bag boy at publix because he understands i love to ride the cart to my car...(and see if mia and i can make it all the way with one push), or the deli guy that remembers that i don't like boar's head turkey because it tastes like roadkill..or to my family and those others that are held very close.

precious ones in my life i am resolved to not take you for granted and mind the fact that we have time...and that is important for all of us. our space for learning more about each other, memorizing what is important to you (and maybe how we like our coffee) and enjoying what we offer each other. encouraging to say the least that time can be so enjoyable and so beneficial for loads of reasons.

i loved today...
my thoughts and love to bebek, sam

a peak....

hello to all...
ok so the time has changed and i'm AWAKE...what creatures of habit we become- nevermind there is an extra hour of sleep to be had...however, the sun coming up this morning was beautiful and more sleep would have meant missing it...and so the day begins...

i owe you all a sneak peak at spring 2009 to be sure...and so A picture i will share...sewn items will be flying soon for pictures and new sample sets but for now i have piles of sample yardage just from a few of the fabric vendors so this is not all...just a little....

we are adding several new patterns for spring and changing some that we have already...exciting for sure to have new pieces here and fabulous to look forward to another season...

p.s. we will be in tuscaloosa with our new rep. catherine at christmas market there...more details to follow...with excess inventory

until next time...
all my love to bebek and sam...