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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

links i love 11/12

 

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1.come listen to me on this week's paperclipping roundtable. the topic is scrapbooking military moments. the fabulous elizabeth dillow was the other guest, and i just love her. please excuse my man voice and awkwardness…that's just how i roll. 🙂

 

2. thank you so much to amy perez for sending me a link to the joyful life library project. please go read about this amazing cause.

simply put:

We feel strongly that reading a favorite story to a child is an act of love that's comforting to the child and the caregiver alike, and is especially important when your life has been turned upside down because of a little one's critical illness.  As a parent of a hospitalized child, you often feel helpless because there is so little comfort and care you can offer.  Being able to sit and read a book, just like you would do at home, helps to make the entire family feel a little bit better.  Because of this we have set out to put books in as many PICU's as we possible can.

how can that NOT just warm your heart and motivate you to GIVE? i plan to add a bunch of extra books to my Christmas shopping list and i hope you will too.

 

3.Like TinyPrints on Facebook and receive a free military card to send your favorite veteran (through November 15)!!!

 

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4. love this image. more people could stand to live by this quote, don't you think?

 

that's it! i hope you have a beautiful weekend!

xoxo

s

to my veteran…

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to my veteran, and to all of the veterans past and present…

 

i could never put into words quite how deep my gratitude is. i couldn't sufficiently express how full my heart is of thankfulness.

i can't verbalize the emotions that i feel that he and so many others have the bravery and selflessness to do what they do.

this portion of a letter he wrote his daughter (along with a flag he sent) tells you the kind of man he is:

daddy carried this flag especially for you while conducting operations in afghanistan. i carried this flag on my back while climbing the mountains in the korengal valley.  this flag represents the strength of this country. and the people in it. but more than that…it represents the love i have for you.

 

so jimmy, thank you. not only for the seven times you've served, but for the example you are. thank you. thank you for the father you are, the soldier you are, the man you are.

 

and thank you (from the bottom of my heart) to every single soldier,marine,airman,and sailor out there.

thank you for fighting. thank you for being strong enough to leave. to miss years of moments, of firsts. thank you for overcoming your fears and standing strong. thank you for continuing to deploy over and over and over. thank you for loving US enough to do what you do so that WE do not have to do it, so that we can be safe.

 

and to their families who wait at home…thank YOU.

 

and to all of you reading, if you want a  way to do something…a way to say thank you, here are some ideas.

kids thank a vet

let's say thanks

operation write home

wounded warrior project

a million thanks

anysoldier

 

happy veteran's day.

let me break it down for you.

here’s the anatomy of a twin photo shoot.

hmm. i think i’ll sit them over here in the grass and quickly snap a photo before one of them moves or eats something.

wait a second…why is lucy looking at me like that?

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hmm. okay. i think i’ll move them over in the doorway. there’s better light there and they like to sit there when i open the door.

what the heck are they looking at? what could possibly be down there?

HELLO??? MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB!! MAMAMAMAMAMAMA! lalalaallala (all of this while dancing)

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first lucy looks at me for a second:

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then cate looks at me for a second (whilst doing some sort of acrobatic maneuver):

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now neither one of them have interest in me whatsoever (squeaking sophie the giraffe over my head)

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oh, for the love. now they are climbing each other.

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okay. let’s try the yard again.

 

LUCY WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT AGAIN??? ARE YOU A MINI SADIE IN THE MAKING?

 

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and i’m done.

🙂

xoxo

s

hmm. this seems familiar.

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well, you've got to hand it to her…

she's nothing if not consistent.

today i'm grateful for sadie and her ability to always make me laugh. even if i'm crying simultaneously.

happy monday!

xxo