This year will be my 11th year with the company, the industry, that completely changed my life.

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Well, graduation week is over and I survived!!! Hallelujah!!! I can't tell you how proud I am of my son. He is so brilliant and bright and loving and compassionate and kind and funny and all the good things! It was a great honor and blessing to watch him partake in the ceremony and then to listen to his speech. He left his dad and me in tears. I never knew he felt these things for me, his mom, and as he spoke them, my heart grew to bursting (yes, I was wearing waterproof make-up...). Then to watch this adult child of mine interact with other adults...I wish you could feel what I felt. Like, WOW! This child we raised, he is a GOOD person! I don't know if it is because of our raising him or in spite of raising him, but ya, he's awesome. And there is of course all of God to thank for this person. He gifted us with Cody, He gave us the patience, understanding and help to raise him. He has drawn Cody to Himself and has made him a great Man of God. I can't wait to see where his life takes him after this, his first step into the great unknown! My mom says, "Your kids are always your kids" and I totally understand more and more of what that meaning is. We just have to place our child into the hands of God and trust that He knows best how to lead Cody. I have some images of the evening below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Because I had mom's camera at my house, left over from Cody's graduation and party, I decided that today would be the day to do the photo shoot of the fencing outfit. I did my hair (something I generally do not go out of my way to do) and Colton snapped away. I think he did a wonderful job! I have decided to start a YouTube channel for Beauty From Ashes. My hope and goal is to do a video every time I write a new blog post. I am always wondering what the people whose blogs I read sound like and how they act. Are they really as funny as their blogs make them out to be? So, in case anyone who reads my blog is like me, you get to hear how dorky I sound! hahahahaha!!! Beauty From Ashes YouTube channel I used Laughing Moon 110, Ladies 1890s Sporting Costumes pattern. The bloomers are made of lightweight wool and the top is made of cotton canvas. For the buttons I used antique bone buttons. Another inspiration was a fencing jacket from The MET. Inspiration for the whole thing from Get Thee to a Nunnery Tumblr. I had fun with all the different poses that fencers assume for the actual fencing. Get Thee to a Nunnery Get Thee to a Nunnery I used many images from my Pinterest board Sports: Fencing as inspiration for the poses above. Unfortunately, I didn't have any place that was suited for taking the fencing poses, so I tacked dupioni silk to my wall and used that for a back drop. I think it worked rather well, but it wasn't wide enough to get really good pictures of some of the poses... Me, fencing a fence. I literally got the idea to do this while Colton was filming me for my first ever YouTube video. Why hadn't I thought of it before I had downloaded all the pictures the first time? The fence won..... My Fabulous Graduate!!! Again, this was the most wonderful weekend. I so appreciate everyone who came to support and love on my son! He is my favorite 18 year old in the whole wide world, and I thank God every day that he was given to Greg and me!!! Many times I have watched other parents of graduates and have wondered what it felt like to feel their joy and happiness. Thursday evening, I knew exactly what that felt like! It was surreal to see this kid who is mine (I'm so not old enough to have a child this old!!!) graduating and taking another step into adulthood. I wish I could bottle that feeling and take it out every once in a while and just savor it! We four. Greg, Cody, me and Colton. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my family!!! Us four with my Mama and Daddy, Lana and Ray! They have been HUGE supporters of Cody and love him without measure! My Dad taught Cody to shoot and takes him hunting every year. My Mom takes the time to listen to his heart and is such a great Nana! They both gently and lovingly give grand-parental guidance to him. I know he takes their wisdom and life lessons to heart! With my incredible Mother-in-Law Pam. She loves on Cody from far away and flew to town just for his graduation. She is another great supporter of my Cody! She takes time out just for him to have great conversations and gently lends her own guidance. She can't wait to move her to be closer to him and the other grandchildren! Receiving his diploma. Yes, I was crying...He gives the best hugs! He gave the best speech. Yes, he is my son and yes, I can be biased. But he was eloquent, even, didn't waver and spoke his heart. I was not only touched and blessed, but seriously impressed! Pomp and Circumstance At this time, the water works that I was bravely holding back, sprang forth! My fabulous, handsome son, Cody! He is truly as happy and joyful as this picture shows. I LOVE this boy man! I hope you are all having a marvelous Monday and I hope (if you live in the USA) your Memorial Day is one of reflection and gratitude! Be blessed my friends! g *Title has been edited to reflect correct year of fencing outfit. I have no idea why I titled it Edwardian Era...no idea at all as the inspiration images are from 1897!!! I totally blame it on the craziness of the previous week!! Ta!!! *

Like many the weekends have always been our favorite. It’s the time we’re actually home for most of the day, cooking meals together, and taking the time to enjoy our house. This past weekend we took it easy, caught up on some magazines that have piled up on our coffee table, did some grocery shopping, … Continue reading "Sunday Brunch"

As you very well know, my best friend lives in Sweden. We Skype almost every day, text constantly, but still somehow miss each other’s infectious company. So again, we decided to meet up somewhere lovely and spend a long weekend together. This time we met in the middle, in Denmark. Where we spent a handful […]

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Have a new recipe you’ve been dying to try? Have a vision of ways to revamp your living space? Have fun dinner party ideas? Now is the time to do it!Spending time at home can be rejuvenating and productive at the same time. We have found it easier to tackle our goals when we feel put together. So, while you’re at home