Ok, shame on me for not telling anyone that I was going on a hiatus from blogging... ok, I didn't even know. The time just flew by! In fact, as my cute uncle commented on here, Marley is 1 now and the blog is def in need of updating. So here are some updates of what I've been doing:
*The kiddos*
Tripp and Chrissy were both enrolled in a little program called Puddle Jumpers (not at the same time). It was a Mommy and me class that was once a week and focused on learning to follow directions. Tripp almost did not make it in because of late registration, but Erick had gone a few years before, and those sweet teachers remembered me :)
I unfortunately did not go with Chrissy on her last day, her Grandma Olsen did, so I don't have a pic of her holding her certificate.
Erick graduated from Kindergarten!! Their end of school program was dressing up in assigned occupations. Erick was a mailman, but he told me he didn't actually want to be one when he grew up, lol.
*Birthdays*
Three birthdays happened during my absence of this blog.
Tripp turned 4 and I made an awesome Spider-man cake which he loved.
Then Marley had her first birthday, and also her first blister :(
And Erick turned a big 6 and had a fun little water party with friends. He wanted a snake for a cake, so it wasn't too terrible to make.
I love that I have figured out how to make fondant for their cakes, and even though I enjoy have ideas of grandeur about being a fabulous cake decorator, it's not easy! But the kids think I can do anything and as long as they're happy, I don't mind them thinking that :)
*Art*
I painted a few portraits, one being of my friend mom. Her name was Nelda Greene and she was always so kind and sweet to me. She passed away from breast cancer when Sarah and I were 16. But I hadn't seen Sarah since I was 10, when we moved out of the neighborhood. On Facebook, it's really kept me in touch with friends and family, Sarah and I reconnected and decided to get together. I brought the kids to her place and we let them play while we caught up on old times. We talked about her mom, and as I was leaving, I noticed that she didn't have any pictures of her mom hanging up anywhere. I offered to paint a portrait of her mother as a gift, and to choose from her favorite photos which one she would like. It was a very emotional goodbye and I really felt the Spirit strong as we hugged and I drove away.
It was an honor to be able to paint Mrs. Nelda and I know she misses her family as much as they miss her.
The other portrait was done in pencil of the brother of a friend of mine. This one was a little tougher because not only had I never met him, but she had a special request. Her brother was born with a severe handicap that made him bound to a wheelchair. He did not have a very long life expectancy, however he baffled doctors and lived to be in his early 20's. He had died earlier this year, and her request was to draw him, not with his mortal appearance of unfocused eyes and slack jaw, but of a healed, healthy young man. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I told her I would give it a shot. I was amazed at how it slowly came into focus. I don't know if this picture will look anything like him, but it highly resembled his sister, and I didn't even use pictures of her to do it. I just used what pictures I had of him, some inspiration, and a lot of faith. They gave this picture to their mom for Mother's Day. It wasn't received with as enthusiasm as they might have hoped at first, but their mother has it hanging on the wall at their house.
I just want to let anyone reading this that I know there is a place that we go after we die. It's not necessarily heaven, but it is a place of peace and rest from our struggles and trials of this world. And also a place of waiting and reuniting with our loved ones until the time that Christ comes again and we'll be judged. But until that time, we can know that after this life we will again see our loved ones who have passed before us. That is such a comfort to me. And I hope so to you all too!
And one more update... welcome baby Finn!!
Finn Edward Olsen is due September 20 and we are all excited to meet him ;)
