{Putting Her Best Foot Forward}

Catch this. It's a pretty cool story.

A friend of a friend of a friend got a few cases of wine given to her for a charitable cause.
She used them for said cause but had one case of wine left over. Being the good person she
is, she wanted to use that wine to pay it forward. So, she and some friends (including Kim

Baldwin) came up with an idea ...

... to use the case of wine to host a wine and hors d'oeuvres fundraiser in honor of Martha

Kuhn. Martha is preparing to walk in her fourth Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer 3-Day

Walk for the Cure. Each year, Martha raises $2,300 and then walks 60 miles in three

days to help battle breast cancer. Her friends decided they would help her get an early

jump on her fund raising in 2010.

They asked for a donation of $25 from each person in attendance. They also held a

raffle in which people and local business donated items. Guests could buy three

tickets for $10 and put their raffle tickets in front of items they wanted to enter to win.

I offered to make a slideshow for the event. Martha provided me with some great photos

and some of the music I used. I was so pleased with how it turned out!

They held the event on Saturday night (the 20th). Martha raised $1,100!

I thought this was an awesome example of what being a good human being is all about!

- Martha for her dedication to fund raising and walking in the 3-Day year after year.

- Kim and her friends for paying it forward and helping Martha.

- People who don't even know each other coming together for a good cause.

- The generous spirit of a few can making a big difference.

It's just all good stuff.

{Graduation}

Before graduation, people kept asking, 'are you so excited to be done with school'?
I was pleased, but it really just felt like the end of another semester ...
until I put my cap and gown on and went to my graduation ceremony.

God, did that feel good. I finally had a chance to let it sink in. I'm so glad I walked.

Before hand, there was a part of me that didn't want people to make a fuss about it.

I didn't want anyone to go out of their way to be there, and I didn't see how a party

was necessary. It just felt weird to celebrate it, in part, because I "should have" finished

many years earlier.

But I got over that (with a little encouragement from David) and I'm so glad I did. It was fabulous to have people there who love me and who I love. It felt good to share it with them

and to celebrate my accomplishment.

We took some photos before hand, did the ceremony thing and then

went back to our house for food, conversation, company, and presents!


Pam got this one of me and the girls when we first arrived.
Catherine is giving the day a thumbs up!

These two photos are pretty special to me. This day was earned as much by

David as it was by me. He was a huge support for me through this journey --

emotionally, financially and otherwise. I'm really thankful to him and so glad

he was there! This day wouldn't have been the same without him by my side.

My brother, Aaron, and his entire family (all six of them) flew in from

Ohio just for this day. Pretty awesome. :) It was nice to have family there.

Aaron and me.

Me with Aaron and Pam's beautiful kids -- (from left to right) Lauren, Meghan,

Catherine, and Aidan.

David's parents, Sandy and Jim, traveled in from Michigan.


Our friend, Kim, came for the ceremony, too. (Photo from a holiday party in December.)

I was so glad she did! Her presence added a really nice dynamic that evening. We always

enjoy her company and our family did, too. She went out of her way to make my day

extra special, and I feel very grateful for her friendship. I mean, it's a sweet friend who

gives up their Friday night, after working all week, to sit through a boring commencement. :)

Backstage before the ceremony with some friends from my program.

Afterwards, we had a little party at the house.

D, me, Jim, Sandy, Aaron, Pam, the kids, and my friend, Kim.

I'm telling you, you should totally graduate. You get completely spoiled! :)

Aaron and Pam hand wrapped the bag they gave me in ASU colors. Loved it!

(Aside from my camera, I think it's my new favorite possession.)

David got me a beautiful ASU frame for my diploma.

Kim brought me a lovely necklace and an insanely delicious cake for us to share.

There were flowers, a robe, bath and body stuff, ornaments, and gift cards.

It was all too much! Everyone was so thoughtful and so excited for me.

I was really touched.

Graduation day is going in the memory banks as a good one. :)

{Holiday Houses}

Kim and I thought it'd be fun to make Christmas houses, 100% inspired from the Halloween houses I made in October. We were right. It was fun. :) Christmas crafting with a friend is a fabulous way to spend a Sunday.

And ... the paper mache houses were on sale at Hobby Lobby for only $2 each (regularly

$4). These are totally affordable to make. Just add adhesive, paper, paint, and a couple

dollars worth of embellishments.

We each made two -- one to keep and one to share. This is the one I made for our house.

It's sitting on my living room shelves, and I love it. Santa is going to help me deliver the

other one to someone special.





How's your holiday shopping going this year? Are you making or buying? Totally stressed

about finishing or done? Buying for kids and calling it good or going all out? Skipping gifts

all together with a plan to just enjoy being together?

{PCI Bonding Time}

You know, we're pretty lucky to have a good group of people around us because of D's

job. Got to spend some time with them on two different occassions in the last month.

Just getting around to sharing a couple photos here today...

All of us from Phoenix & Albuquerque PCI (minus a couple people who couldn't make it)

got together for a lovely weekend in Tucson. It was a nice getaway!

I didn't have my camera out much at all. Too busy chatting -- and playing hours of pool volleyball on Saturday afternoon. It was nice to see people from New Mexico and meet

those who've recently joined the group. Also, Kim told us all about her amazing trip to

South Africa. It was a lot of fun!

Here's everyone at dinner ... AZ & NM 2009.

The weekend before Tucson was a baby shower for Mandi. The gliche -- Mandi went
into labor with Jace that morning. How's that for timing? We had to have the party

without her. We hadn't hung out as a group in about three months. So, we had fun

catching up, anyway.

Jenny and Kim did a really nice job of putting it together. Thanks, ladies. And congrats

to new parents, Mandi and Brian. Photos of Jace, coming soon!!