Stars

    Last night as Jeff and I were walking/running Sunnie, I looked at how bright the stars were.  It was enough to stop me in my tracks.
"How cool is it going to be to see the stars in South Africa?"
I said to Jeff, "We'll be in a completely different hemisphere so they'll look different than what we see right now."  Our hearts are being prepared for our mission in Africa.  The stars showed me that God has great things planned for us here, with our life in Charleston, in Jeff's clinical rotations, and as we search for job opportunities.  The stars also showed me that God has plans for our time in South Africa.  No matter what hemisphere we are in, God is there and He is preparing a way for us. 
    Our passports came in this week.  That made our mission seem even more real.  Thank God nothing went wrong with our files or the passport process.  Hopefully, in the next ten years we will get to use this passport more than once!

    Our mission team is looking to purchase our plane tickets as quickly as possible.  With 50 people traveling from South Carolina to South Africa we've got to get them soon, for the sake of traveling together and the price.  If you have been planning to donate to our medical mission in South Africa, please consider doing so soon.  We cannot purchase our flight tickets until there are enough overall funds.  Again, the sooner we purchase these, the better off we'll be financially and traveling as a team.
    If you would like to stay updated with our team's progress and daily updates while we are IN South Africa, please visit:
http://southafrica316.blogspot.com/
You will find more information on here like, how to donate, a description of our mission, pictures from previous trips, supplies needed, and fundraising opportunities.

Meet Sunnie

Here's our sweet new friend, Sunnie!  Jeff and I have been wanting to have a dog for a while!  Ok, really, Jeff has wanted a Lab since he was in high school and I've wanted one since last summer.  Jeff had the idea for a great K9 Valentines surprise!  He called Mike of Gold Rock Kennel to ask about one of his 5-month-old, female pups.  Thankfully, Jeff also filled me in on this surprise, so we had all week to think of names and doggie proof the home place.  Here she is . . .

**Sunnie**

Let the training begin!  If you have ANY training advice please leave a comment!  We'd love to know what has worked for you, and what hasn't.

Sunnie is VERY active and playful, it's almost impossible to get her to hold still for a picture. . . unless she is asleep!  I snagged this one after lots of play time.

DIY Weekly Calendar

Variations of these "Our Week" Calendars have been floating around Pinterest lately.  I decided that Jeff and I probably needed something to help keep up with each other.  Really it just helps me keep up with him :)  His class schedule is always changing and my work schedule and photography sessions keep my schedule interesting.  Here's my solution!

This frame was from Goodwill, I got it a really long time ago and had halfway painted it.  The paint color wasn't to my liking so I stop painting and put it away till I wanted to deal with it.  Surprise, I actually liked the color combination once I started putting the pieces together.
Here's what I used:
16x20 frame with glass
18x22 fabric
hot glue gun
paper
scissors
marker

1. Hot glue fabric to the board that came in the frame...that's the easiest way to make sure you have the right size. I did all gluing on the backside with the extra inch of fabric on each side.
2. Cut out papers to and tape to fabric to make your days.
3. Cut circles for the date, tape to fabric/paper.

4. Make sure everything is secure and place in frame, glass first.
Not too shabby!
5. Each week, update your calendar with dry erase markers!

Ansel Adams

"Art is both love and friendship, and understanding; the desire to give. . .
. . . It is not charity, which is the giving of Things, it is more than kindness which is the giving of self. It is both the taking and giving of beauty, the turning out to the light the inner folds of the awareness of the spirit. It is the recreation on another plane of the realities of the world; the tragic and wonderful realities of earth and men, and of all the inter-relations of these."
-Ansel Adams

Ansel in Yosemite National Park

I've always wanted to study Ansel Adams, especially after my trip to Yosemite in 2011.  I think these words he wrote to his friend have convinced me to see what Ansel was all about.  I think I'll also work on some typography for his quote to hang in my office.  Oh Ansel, so much inspiration.

Me in Yosemite National Park

It's always an adventure with these two

The letter and image was found here