Pay it Forward

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Please keep in mind the following information which applies to this offer:

1-It will be a surprise and I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2- It will be homemade.
3-You will receive your gift sometime this year (as in - sometime in the next 9 months!)

HERE'S THE CATCH: You must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who follow the directions. (If you don't have a blog, you can just pick 5 people to make something for.)

West to East to.....Heaven??

I never thought I would live in Montana, or Philadelphia. But I have. When Bryan told me that he was offered a full ride scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman, I should have been more excited. I pictured horse drawn buggies. Boy was I naive. Our time spent there was more that just an education. We made many life long friends, I had the chance to get to know Bryan's side of the family better, being that both of his parents are from the beautiful state with the endless BIG skies! And, we had our little girl, Alyssa, there. Early 2004, after three years, Bryan had to practically pry me away.

When Bryan was applying to schools that spring, options in Pennsylvania kept popping up. When Bryan was wait listed to a school in Erie, we waited and waited.....for a year. Another season to apply for medical school, once again, found us wait listed. I was so confused. Erie, being very far away from home, found contentment in my soul. There was something pulling me that direction.....but we had to come up with "Plan B." Bryan was taken by podiatry, a specialty that still allowed him to treat people and do surgery. He shadowed a podiatrist and this particular doctor, who did not go to Temple University for his training, strongly recommended to Bryan that he should go there if the opportunity arose. Bryan came home and told me he was going to apply. I asked him where Temple was, his response, "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." At that moment, there was no question in my mind that he would be a podiatrist and attend that school. I just knew it. He applied to the school. They offered him an interview. This was his first and last interview, being that he cancelled the other two because after 4 days of meeting with him, they called to offer his acceptance. All this was achieved in one months time. I have never questioned if Bryan was supposed to go into podiatry. Living in Philly and watching him per sue his career has been very rewarding for him and our family. Once again, we find ourselves moving forward so he can do his three year surgical residency. I am so sad to be leaving here. And where are we going exactly?

The gorgeous picture above is a lake called Lake St. Clair, just off the Michigan shore near Detroit. We are moving to the Detroit suburbs! Bryan matched to do his residency at Southeast Michigan Hospital, formerly known as the Kern program. This was the first podiatric surgical hospital/program in the country and more podiatrist have come from this program than from any other in the country. This news did not come crisp and clear to me like our Philly experience. In fact, it was far off of my radar. Everything I was feeling took my mind far from the possibility of Michigan. Now that the shock has worn off, Byran and I are looking forward to all that the program entails. We have recognized that going there offers many opportunities for him and our family. I am very excited for my next adventure, and I am proud of Bryan for all that he has accomplished!!

Spidey and Friends

Last Saturday, we celebrated Mason's birthday with his favorite guy, Spider-Man. We had a few of his friends over for games, lunch, and of course, cake and ice cream. I'm sure it made for a fun time.

We started off with some face painting!

We played Pin Spidey on the Web.

We made slime! Ooey-gooey goodness!!

And as always, we cut into a perfectly decorated cake! Every slice was worth it for a reaction and smile like this!

Thanks to everyone for a fun day! We appreciate the calls and cards and thoughts from family that couldn't be closer to celebrate his big day with us! We love you!

Happy 3rd Birthday Mason!

Bryan and I can't believe how fast 3 years goes by. We love Mason so much and has brought so much personality to the family. We already see in him, peacemaking qualities between his family members and his humor. We just love that he is part of the family!!! Happy 3rd Birthday Mason!- Love Mommy and Daddy


Mason at the Hospital. Hours old.


Mason's FIRST Birthday. What a little chunky monkey!


Mason's turns TWO! We had a really fun "Cars" party for him! I miss those curly locks!

Mason TODAY! Getting funnier by the second. This is his new favorite face to pull, every time there is a camera around! It's been fun to see his personality really come through!