Candles for Caden

My friend from high school, Becca just gave birth to her second child, a little boy named Caden, just over a week ago. Just after he was born they found some severe heart defects and had to perform open heart surgery when he was just a few days old. You can read more about their journey here.

It amazes me how many people have reached out to love, support and pray for this family from all over the country and really the world. People who don't know them are praying for this precious little boy. God had a big plan for this little boy and he is changing hearts everyday.  There is a Facebook page Candles for Caden that has kept everyone up to date on his prognosis and has even started some fundraising for this family. See Becca and Adam have started a nonprofit for inner city children in Atlanta and only live on support they raise. So with a child in the ICU bills are quickly pilling up I'm sure. So in an effort to help them any way I can, I have also set up a fundraiser in their name through my Scentsy website. All of the proceeds from this month's sales are being donated to the Stanley's.  Every little bit helps and hopefully we can make a small impact on this family whose little boy us having a big impact on hearts and minds across the globe.

To find ways to support them visit:

Scenty - Candles For Caden

Facebook - Candles for Caden

Give Forward

Becca and Adam's Ministry

If you can, please help me support them the only way I know how, through prayers and fundraising.  I know prayers have sustained them this far and I know God will provide for them what they need, but they have a long road ahead.

Photography Challenge Week #2

Week #2 of our photography challenge is What Makes You Smile? 

Since last week Miles seemed to take front and center of my self portrait, I decided I needed to find something else to photograph.  While there are several things that make me smile, husband, family, friends, I thought those would be too easy.  So I thought all day about it yesterday and on my home from work I heard the new Rascal Flatts song on the radio.  A light bulb went off!  I LOVE Rascal Flatts.  I can remember the first time I heard Praying for Daylight, I was a sophomore in high school and had just gotten my drivers license (this does age me) and I've been in love ever since!

So this week's photo is of my Rascal Flatts Cd's (this is by no means my entire collection :)) 

Ryan and I went to CMA Fest in June and got to see Rascal Flatts, very fun!!

On a side note, a friend of mine from high school had a sweet baby boy yesterday.  Right after he was delivered they found some severe heart defects and had to rush him to the children's hospital.  You can read more about it here.   It makes my heart smile how many people have wrapped them in love and prayers already, but they could really use your prayers. 

Photography Challenge: Week 1

My friend LB from A Step In The Journey  created a Photography Challenge to do every week.  I decided to join in on the fun!  Ryan got me a Canon for Christmas right before we got married.  While I have taken great pictures with it, none of them have been because of talent, it's just a nice camera with a great zoom.  I've been meaning to learn more about my camera for a while now and thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

Week 1 is a self portrait, so here is what I came up with.  I set up the self timer and of course, Miles just couldn't resist, he had to be front and center!

Getting a little dusty

A few months ago Ryan and I found a great china hutch at goodwill for $25.  It was a steal! There were several people in the store asking about it after we had already purchased it.  We felt pretty good about it and were super excited about it!  We figured a little sanding, a little touch up and maybe some stain or new paint and it would be good to go!  We were WRONG!! This has been the never ending project.  We worked on it a few weekends ago for hours and it felt like we had not done anything!

Mrs Pace sent over a few photos from our work day...

Since the process is moving so slooooow, I figured I would bring a few pieces home with me to work on to hopefully speed up the process.  With this new beauty,

I got to work for a little while this afternoon and I thought I would share what Miles thought of the process.

 

It took me about 45 minutes, but I think I made a lot of progress, plus a huge mess.