ONLINE AUCTION

As you may know, (really- I have no clue who really reads my blog....but I like to pretend I've got a following all over the country!) we are having an online auction. The proceeds from this auction will be going directly to the Summers family. This auction is being hosted on my friend Sally's blog. SO- go check it out! Here are the things my mom and I are donating, that I have a picture of.

One item is a grapevine Christmas wreath. The other is a great 45" x 45" baby blanket, one side is flannel, the other is 100% cotton. So- go to Sally's and check it out!!!

Singin' in the Rain

Again, these are some pictures that I found and I needed to share. In the beginning of August we went to visit my brother and his wife in Independence, KS. It's a nice little town with some very quaint older homes. We enjoyed our time there, and spending time with the fam. While we were there, however- it turned off rainy and with some much cooler than normal temperatures. We did NOT complain! My brother has a great front porch with a porch swing and I took advantage of the rainy weather to go out to the porch swing and read a book. So relaxing! Then, Quinlynne came out and decided she was going to play with the umbrella in the rain- from the porch. So, here are some cute pictures I snapped from that!

Step back- ELECTION 2008

OK, so I know we're all so thankful that the 2008 Presidential Election is over. However, since my camera and computer were not working during that time- I'm finally getting around to posting about it.

An area bakery (Merritt's) held an unofficial poll between McCain and Obama by selling sugar cookies decorated with each candidate's name. A tally was kept of how many cookies of each candidate was sold- and that is how the total was computed. (Did any of that make sense?) I just HAD to participate. ANY excuse to patron Merritt's! I went down and bought cookies for the candidate I supported- and one of the candidate I did not support- because I needed it for the scrapbook page I'll eventually get around to.

We talked a little about the election with Quinlynne. I doubt she'll retain any of that- but I at least tried. Then- I let her go to town with the cookie of our man.

Election morning dawned and I HAD to go vote before I went to work. Our local voting place is the Elk's lodge across Highway 51. The last Presidential election I left the house about 45 minutes earlier than I normally did- and I was still an hour late for work. That was not going to happen to me this time. I left the house and was in my car outside the Elk's lodge at 5:30. I was the 5th person in line!!!! When they finally opened the polls, and I got to cast my ballot- I was the 4th ballot cast! I was so darned proud of myself and knew that my maternal grandparents were very proud of me for sacrificing just a little to take advantage of my right to vote- after all that has been sacrificed for that right. I got to thinking as I was waiting- how thankful I was/am to those women who took part in the suffrage movement and stood up so they, and other women would have the right to vote. Thank you, ladies. I'm proud to be an American Woman!

Which witch??

I'm FINALLY posting a picture or two of Quinlynne on Halloween. She was an adorable little witch. Her hat kept on coming off, so she'd go up to people's doors and they'd think she was just a princess. WELL, she IS my princess- but that's not what she was for Halloween. We went to Tammie's mom's neighborhood in Owasso with Tammie, Elijah & Bryce. Quinlynne kinda pooped out on me after her pumpkin was full- she decided to just lay down on the grass. I admit- her pumpkin was a bit heavy.

Amusing???

Last night mom and I were in charge of a Bridal Shower for a friend of the family....that we've known literally, since we moved to Broken Arrow in 1983. The bride, April, had a good time- at least she looked like she was having a good time. April's big sister is Brenda, my good friend. Brenda arrived in Broken Arrow with her 3 boys fresh from Arizona this Wednesday. I was so excited to see her. I am super duper excited to get my hands on that newborn of hers, Seth. I told her that I'd dug out my baby sling and washed it. I told her that I'd gone out and dug out the baby sling and put it in the laundry. Mom had been looking at me strangely and asked what I was doing. I informed mom I was going to wash up the ole baby sling so when Brenda and I go out with the kids, I can wear Seth around. Brenda, I think, thought that was hilarious and amusing. I told her that I had to live vicariously and use her newborn. I can hardly wait to get my lips on those adorable cheeks of his! Just so if you see me out and about- I have not been hiding a pregnancy and I did not adopt- I am hogging Seth!

Duane Summers

Hello all. I thoguht I would let you know that Duane Summers passed away today. I spoke briefly with Becky's mom, and she is the one who let me know. She said it was a very sweet and peaceful passing. Please continue to keep the Summers family in your prayers. They will definitely need strength from our Heavenly Father in the coming days, weeks & months. Also, please consider the Garage Sale and the Silent Auction I previously mentioned. Anything at all to help support this beautiful family would be greatly appreciated.

Info for the Summers family

SUMMERS’ BENEFIT
GARAGE SALE/BAKE SALE
All proceeds will go to the Summers Family.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
7:00AM- 3:00 PM
1701 Hickory Ave, Broken Arrow
Please donate baked goods and gently used items to sell.
All items will be donated to Goodwill after sale.
Drop off items Saturday morning or contact
Heidi Roberts for further info: toddandheidiroberts@hotmail.com
H: 286-7075 C: 978-6003


Summers’ Benefit
Silent Online Auction
All proceeds will go to the Summers family.
December 1-3, 2008
Monday-Wednesday
Please donate new items
or a service to be auctioned.
(example items: handmade items; event tickets; gift baskets; craft items; services i.e.: baked/cooked goods, babysitting, yard work, home maintenance, floral arrangements; Professional Services i.e.: painting, haircuts, carpet cleaning, haircuts; 72 hour kits; cookbooks; etc.)
To bid on items go to: www.sallyrollins.blogspot.com
To donate & participate, please contact:
Sally Rollins at sally.rolllins@gmail.comDanielle Olaveson at daosunshine@hotmail.com

More prayers needed

I know I've told some of you about the Summers family. This family is a beautiful family that is in my ward at church. Becky and Duane have 7 beautiful kids.

You can read Becky's blog here. Their oldest daughter, Molly, is the wonderful young woman that went with us to watch Quinlynne when I went to the Dallas temple in June. A little over a year ago, Duane was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. The doctors did not give him much hope, but he decided to fight it, and his body responded miraculously to the treatment and he went into remission. What an answer to many prayers. However, recently, Duane found out his cancer had come out of remission and he began the fight again. Duane is not doing very well, his body is not responding to treatments. My heart breaks for every member of the Summers family. Becky refers to Duane as "my Love, my Life, my Hero"- and she's not just being sappy; she truly feels this way about her eternal companion.

(You can read about Duane's cancer battle here.) So, in order to try to help the family out just a little, we will be having a garage sale next weekend. I am not positive of the details yet, but as soon as I know, I'll pass the information along. Also, we will be having a silent auction, hosted on Sally's blog. I pray these things will be a success. If you could keep this family in your prayers, I'm sure they will be able to feel it and will be so appreciative.

More oldies

I have decided to enlighten you all a bit more with pictures. Quinlynne was the apple of my dad's eye. During a time when he was so sick, she gave him reasons to smile- and kept him from going stir crazy when he was stuck at home. When she got a little older and he got a little stronger, she started going places with him- just the two of them. She sure did think she was big stuff when they got to that stage. Anyhow- here is a picture of Quinlynne Lucille with her Poppa after a bottle. She was about 8 months old there. Don't they have the same smile??

Two weeks after Quinlynne's 1st birthday, my parents took Quinlynne with them on a trip to Idaho. They were only supposed to be gone 2 weeks. 23 later, they came home. I was a little bitter. Anyhow, I was worried about them taking her with them because I just knew mom would end up having to do everything and all of the work. Mom said that dad took care of Quinlynne more than half the time. I don't know if Quinlynne will ever remember the time she spent on that road trip with her grandparents, but I know my parents will. Idaho is where my dad is from, and he still has some family and old high school friends there. He had an absolute great time and I don't know how he made it home b/c his head was so big from everyone telling him how much that baby looked like him. Mom said it was quite an enjoyable vacation for them, and they took lots of pictures. Here is one of my favorites.

Isn't that just adorable? That's my dad, ever the truck driver- with his new little name-sake to teach about the United States as they journey through it.

Bring it on

We FINALLY got a computer up and running in the Hoffman household. Thank goodness! So, after a new hard drive...and info from the old on transferred over (including pictures), I was looking at some of the pictures stored. (Don't worry- I DO have the majority of them burned onto a disc, so all would not be lost if something terrible happened to the computer.) I think I'll be posting some new pictures and some old pictures of Quinlynne on here- because this will be fun for her to look at one day....right? OK, this first set of pictures may show you what a sick little momma I am. Quinlynne was 9 1/2 months old in these. She was just learning how to climb up into her rocking chair.

She made it up there and was sitting straight.

Then- she face planted into the carpet. I don't know how I caught it on camera, but I did and it's pretty amusing.

Is it wrong of me to have laughed at this? Is it even more wrong to publish it for the world to see??