The Small Town Dream.....My dream in BoCo

The Start of my DREAM......

Today I was asked if I have a dream.....I have always had a dream, but ironically my dream is much different than those around. me.

I do not dream of wealth, I would rather be poor and happy.
I do not dream to be pretty, as looks fade.
I do not dream of wisdom, as I love to learn.

My dreams are simple, my dreams are organic, my dreams are unflattering.

My simple dreams are to live as simple and organic as possible.  I dream of providing for my family the old fashion way, I dream of cooking, gardening, fishing, cleaning, and having the simple life.  I dream of my kids understanding the food we eat comes from the ground, not from the store.  I dream of my daughter baking pies, instead of buying oreos.  I dream of my son understanding how to work a field, feed livestock, and catch his dinner the way our ancestors once did.

This dream I have already started working on, I am looking into starting a small orchard.....I want to teach all of my children that it takes work to reap the reward, plus I LOVE fresh fruit.....The Chicken House Orchard????

I would one day own a place that others will visit, others will enjoy, others will find retreat from their crazy life at.   I dream of providing a sanctuary for those who have none, a place that people can come to forget the burdens that surround them, a place that is not known for expense, but known for love.

I would love to own or run a resort in middle of Bollinger County.  While I am years away (and it may never ever happen), I would love to share this beautiful country with the world, make it a place where people come to relax at.......Escape to BoCo?

An Empty Building in Marble Hill, that could be a HOTEL
Providing a place for travelers to stay, and jobs to those in need!

I dream is to one day see my hometown prosper, to succeed, to be a place that not only am I proud to say is where I come from, but thousands are proud to say they have visited.   I live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, I need not to travel out of my little area to see many of God's paintings.  I dream that people will come visit our area, bring revenue to our area, and one day our youth will have no need to move or drive far away for a job, they will be able to stay near their families and have all they will need.

My last dream is help start, organize, and promote tourism in Bollinger County, Missouri!  For years I have said there is so much here and no one promotes this place.  I am not sure if when I open my mouth to speak if people are confused, people are taken by surprise, or if they just don't know where to start.  I have had this dream for years, but I have always been sidetracked by other's ideas or thoughts, than my divorce came along, and of course their is alway time, money, and energy to add to the mix.  I know deep down inside my heart tourism is the key to success in BoCo, as their is little left here in our very rural area of the world.  I believe that with the proper organization, the proper promoting, our small rural community could be one the next tourist attractions......How does VisitBoCoMO sound you all?

Daily I am met with negative views, smirks, and contradicting comments about my dreams.....for years I have been defeated by those with power, money, more wisdom than I, and the lack of support by those who I love.

I sigh as I sit here, as this is the first time I have spoke about my dreams on my blog.  I know people will laugh, people will say I will fail, but if I fail at least I have tried.   Now if you are reading this and live in BoCo Missouri (Bollinger County, Missouri) and are looking for something to pray about, dream about, or help with....I am always open to help....

God Bless!

~Becky

Becky Cooks....Plum Jelly

Disclosure:  Part of the products in this post I have been gifted in return for a review...however, all thoughts and opinions are my own, unless you want to come help me can my veggies and fruit!  

We have an abundance of plums this year, okay no we have so many plums that we could feed our

Lesse picking plums

neighbors and have!  Grandpa H's plum tree is overloaded with plums this year, he claims it his special fertilizer (chicken poo and water) either way we have so many plums I decided I would learn to make plum jelly! .

I have claimed before and will state it again I am a complete idiot when it comes to this stuff, but with the help of my support team (The Man, Grandpa H, & Grandma H) and The Ball Blue Book Of Canning and Preserving Recipes I have successfully made some yummy Plum Jelly.  

First Lesse and I picked plums, okay we picked and picked plums.....I washed, sorted, and boiled the plums to make plum juice, this was rather easy!   Then the recipe called for 5 1/2 cups of plum juice, 1 package of powdered pectin ( I used Sure-Jell Premium Fruit Pectin), and 7 1/2 cups of sugar. 

My Jelly

First you bring the Juice and Pectin to a boil over high heat, stirring often, then add sugar and bring it to a hard boil for 1 minute.  Once boiled, remove from heat, skim foam off the top, and ladle the jelly into jars to process for 10 minutes.  

For the processing part, or canning part I once again used my Fagor Home Canning Kit.....I cannot say enough how much I love this kit.  I have used my pressure canner a few times now and my review stands the same...Fagor Home Canning Kit is perfect for learners!

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky 

The Infatuation of Me....

Over the past year it has come to my attention that people almost become infatuated with my "online persona".....every time this happens it makes me think of the Brad Paisley song "Online" So Much Cooler Online.

I will disclose that I am REAL, completely with all my flaws, however, knowing someone online and knowing someone in real life is way different.....I am really NOT that cool!

After the last round inbox message telling me how beautiful I am, what a wonderful mother I must be, and it's such a shame I live so far away I have decided to tell the world why you would not love me in person!

• I am BLUNT...okay so blunt I forget my manners and I often get myself into holes that I cannot dig myself out. 

• I am 20 maybe 30 pounds overweight.....Yeah photos can be deceiving, I am NOT a knock out or a supermodel and by the way I really don't give a SXXX that I am overweight, I like my fried chicken and mashed potatoes. 
• I Drink TOO MUCH Coffee

• I can't remember the last time I had a haircut, put on makeup, or bothered to color the gray out of my

  

  ZOOM in to see my unbrushed gray hairs! 

  hair.....I am too busy for those frivolous things, I would rather be fishing, chasing chickens, or working in my garden.

• I can never remember anyone's birthday (thank God for Facebook reminders), but by golly YOU HAD BETTER REMEMBER MINE....speaking of which I will be 31 in a few days and I am proudly rocking my 30's. 

• I am demanding, I expect attention, I talk ALOT, I expect you to talk to me...sometimes about things that are dumb. 

• I am a busy body....I can't stand to sit still, so I create projects to do and often con other people into helping me with those projects. 

• I swim in creeks....but I DO NOT go skinny dipping anymore. 

• I hate to drive, I would prefer to ride in a car so I can take pictures of the things around me. 

• I have an issue with jealousy.....I am a 1 man woman, and expect all the women to STAY AWAY from the man I am with.  

• I have flabby arms, seriously I could wave flags under those things.  I lift weights regularly NOT....I lift weights when I remember to and feel guilty about the piece or entire box of brownies I ate....so maybe I do excercise alot, because I eat brownies alot! :-) 

• I get frustrated easily...I don't hold grudges, but I can be mad at you 10 or 15 times a day, but get happy 30 seconds later.  I warn you this probably the most annoying thing about me.....I call it moody, hormonal, or just being a spoiled brat.  

• I play my music too loud and listen to crazy music.

• I am stubborn, so stubborn that I refuse to normally admit I am stubborn. 

• I am a Daddy's girl, incase you hadn't noticed!  I think my dad intentionally spoiled me rotten, so no man could tolerate me very long!  

• I buy most of my clothes at Target, Walmart, the second hand store in my hometown, JCPenney, and occasionally I will go all out and shop at Kohls.  

• I wear my dresses to short, or so I have been told....I seriously don't even look in the mirror. 

• I don't wear socks with my shoes, socks make my feet sweat, so I don't typically bother with them.

• I forget to call my friends, boyfriends, and family....I hate talking on the phone, so I often forget to return phone calls....speaking of which I need to call my Mom. 

• I tell people I am very busy, but then I can't ever remember what I am busy doing. 

• I need to read the Bible more, because when I sit in church I am often wondering why things sounds familiar, but I can't remember why. 

• I don't like to spend money, infact I clip coupons, budget my grocery list, and refuse to buy things......  

• I get lonely....even with people in the room with me I am lonely.  I have a need for attention, okay there I confessed it...I WANT ALL THE ATTENTION ALL THE TIME!

• I worry everything I write will be used against me....I often fear people will judge me for what I say or do.  
• 
  

Oh and I forgot to add I AM POOR....financially POOR and I prefer it that way!  Yes it is true, I am not rich and I prefer not to be rich. I have seen how money makes people, how people believe they are better than others because they have money, how people dictate others with money.....I prefer to be poor, free, and happy!  

Now for all those people that message me, tweet me, or email please understand that yes I am the same person online as I am in real life, but there is no way possible that you can truly know me just by the things I say.  I appreciate that you admire me, I appreciate that you see all my good qualities, but please understand that grass is never greener on the other side, other people are just as cool as me, and there is no need to be in awe of me!

Thanks,

Becky

Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson Shut-Ins for Summer Fun?

You ask and I answered!  Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson Shut-ins for Summer Fun?  I absolutely LOVE outdoor adventure, but there are times that I have to use logic over adventure! 

D-man testing the ground at
Elephant Rocks State Park

Elephant Rocks State Park is awesome, great for burning off extra energy, climbing, and a very clean state park.  However, rocks hold heat….SERIOUSLY!  Therefore, when my gal pal, mother of a preschooler asked me what my thoughts were on taking her little princess to Elephant Rocks State Park this weekend I threw on the brakes!  I warned her that the rocks at the park tend to get hot, there is very little shade, and it has been extremely hot outside this past week.  While I didn’t tell her not to go, I did tell her if you are planning a trip there, I would plan it early in the morning, late in the evening, or just wait until it was cooler outside.   

Her next question was what my thoughts on Johnson Shut-Ins are for the weekend!  Well I made this mistake when Lesse was a baby, and I have not returned there for a swim with my children.  Johnson Shut-ins is a GREAT place to hike, it is beautiful, and however in my

Lesse sitting in front of the Shut-Ins at Johnson Shut-Ins

opinion it stinks for swimming with little kids.  Bigger kids (middle school age, pre-teens, teens, college kids) this place rocks, but for little ones it made me a NERVOUS WRECK!  The rocks are slick, the shut-ins have hidden holes that can be deep, and it is hard to get to the good swimming holes without crossing the shut-ins. 

I shot my Gal Pal back a few links of some places in that area that might interest her, I felt bad for deflating her hopes of a perfect weekend, but I would feel even worse if her little princess got injured or too hot.

Summer is great for fun, but precautions must happen!  If you are planning an outdoor adventure, plan for early in the day or late in the evening, pack lots of water, sunscreen, take lots of breaks, and don’t forget to EAT…that seems to be my biggest fail! 

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky 

Becky Cooks: Apple Sauce Pie

I would like to give some long flowery story as to why I chose to bake Apple Sauce Pie today, truth is the pantry is low and I had a craving for something sweet.....and of course I wanted surprise the "boys" with something for dinner tonight! 

Apple Sauce Pie is so easy and so simple...which means it is my kind of cooking! 




1  prepared pie crust (look here for pie crust recipe that I used)
1 cup of sweetened condensed milk (look here for a substitute recipe for sweetened condensed milk)
2 cups of Unsweetened Apple Sauce ( I used canned since that is what Grandma H had in her cabinet)
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
2 eggs


Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix sweetened condensed milk, apple sauce, and cinnamon in a medium size sauce pan, bring mixture to a boil. 

In a seperate bowl whisk eggs together.

Once apple sauce, sweetened milk, and cinnamon have begin to boil, slowly pour the mixture in with the eggs until all the mixture is mixed.

Pour mixture into pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.


~Becky

Laundry Day reminds me of how much I love my kids.

Today as I strung our laundry my clothesline, I remembered how many times I have washed, dried, and smelled my children’s clothes….there is nothing lovelier than the sweetness of your own children.   I have been criticized before for saying that it was not my intention to ever have children, this statement is true.  As a teenager and young adult I did not want to have children…I had other plans, but for some reason today, I cannot remember what those plans were.

Motherhood has changed me greatly; yesterday I stood in my old high school gym and watched Lesse dribble the basketball down the same court that I played on as a child.  I could not help, but wipe the tear from my eye, I love being a MOM.  I love every minute of watching my children succeed, watching them learn, watching them love, and crazy as it sounds watching them fight.  

I may say that I never intended to be a mom, because that is true, but God had other plans and when my name was drawn for motherhood, I stepped up and took the challenge.

Dear Lesse & D-man,
Day after day we do not see eye to eye, you are both currently grounded from you IPods, frustrated that I won’t let you have that last soda in the fridge, and attempting convince PaPa that mommy is mean.  I smile smartly at you, as I know that you are just being my children and acting exactly how I expect you to act. 
I know in the near future we are going to have many disagreements and there may be a day that you question how much your momma loves you.  Today I am going to tell you how much I love you!
I love you so much that I climb your bunk beds to feed your fish that I despise.
I love you so much that I often roll over in my bed and find racecars, Tonka trucks, and tractors lined up next to me and just smile. 
I love you so much that I have not wore a normal color of nail polish in good while…neon pink seems to be my new style.
I love you so much that when I hear you giggle at 11 pm I may sigh aloud, but I secretly giggle inside.
I love you so much that I mop the bathroom twice a night every night….with bubble bath water. 
I love you so much that I often smell like sweaty little boy and mangos (mango is Lesse’s current perfume choice).I love you so much that I often wear mud prints from your dog all over me. 
I love you so much that instead of driving our truck up the road I often drive the tractor so that I can see you smile.
I love you so much that while you sleep I work, so while you play I can watch.
I love you so much that I secretly hate pop tarts, zebra cakes, nutty butter bars, but I eat them anyways.
I love you so much that I cannot remember to text my own friends, but I have text your friends every night this week to tell them you are grounded and will have to text them next week, but I will give you their message.I love you so much that I cannot remember the last time I read a book that had more than 10 pages and less than 10 pictures.
I love you so much that I know what is burdening your heart, I am praying for the same answer, and I cry because of your heartache. Kiddos, life is not fair, being a parent is hard….I wish that I could make things be easy for you.  I am doing the best I can at being a mommy, I am so proud of how strong, honest, and loving you two have become.  One day we will together look back on all the chaos that surrounds us, wipe our brow, and say we conquered this and we did it with dignity!    Love you bunches,
Mommy

Our Next Big Adventure….We are going to be FARMERS!

While life takes a spin and we have been on some wild spins….the kids and I are excited to announce we moving to be FARMERS, or that is what D-man has announced. 

It is true, however, we are moving back home to my parents’ farm!  The excitement is bursting in our house as the kids are eagerly packing for the move.  Go figure they would be excited to get spoiled by their PaPa, and I am excited to return to my roots and start a fresh life!  

We have summer plans for many adventures, farming, gardening, and a bit of creek swimming!  We will keep you all posted on our adventures and we appreciate all the prayers and support we have received! 

~Becky 

Happy Holidays 2012

Happy Holidays from our gang to yours!  May your days be filled with love, laughter, and a few comical moments!

Love,

Becky, Lesse, & D-man

Wordless Wednesday and a Grandmother's Love

Look at the LOVE between them! 

Sweet Slobbery Kisses

You know at 93 years old that was a load to hold!  

GaGa's last cross-stitch project, a quilt for Lesse

The Queen & her Princess

So believe it or not many many moons ago I use to despise travel, the thought of loading up my then one child and driving for hours just sounded disgusting.  Then when Lesse was very little my GaGa moved 6 hours away, that is the farthest we had ever been apart.   It took me a while to work up the courage to travel to see her and instantly I grew a love for traveling with my kids.  I now am very much thankful that I did, because over the past 8 years my kids have so many memories of traveling to see GaGa, what we did with GaGa, and especially memories of GaGa.  

Today my Wordless Wednesday post displays the love and memories that we developed from traveling to see GaGa.  

Travel Gadget Monday Lay-n-Go

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was sent this funny looking activity mat/travel bag this weekend to try out and give my mommy opinion on. 

I am loving this travel bag for D's toys! 

I am often hesitant to review products, because I find myself beating my head against the wall wondering how I am going to word my post about this gadget.  Anyways as I ripped open my Lay-n-Go package to check this new activity mat/travel bag out I was caught by surprise, this things says it is suppose to be 18” but look so tiny.  Well that is already a win win for me, as we just have too much stuff and a lack of storage.

I decided that I would dig out D-mans box of Kid K’Nex and try using this handy little bag for storing these tiny little pieces.  We still used the K’Nex box; that box just does not travel to well and I am sure we have spilt half of our pieces while on the go!

I laid the little mat down in the floor, instantly D came running, and together we decided we really liked this little bag.  The bag is easy to convert from a toy mat in the floor to a cinch sack on the go, score for this momma that has too much stuff!     

Lay-n-Go makes a few different sizes of this fun bag, the Lay-n-Go Lite which is the one I  received, Lay/N/Go Cosmo which looks like something that I might need, and the Lay-n-Go 5’ activity mat that I am wondering if it really wouldn't work also as a laundry bag for while traveling???    Just my curiosity!  

Check out the Lay-n-Go products on their website, Like them on Facebook, enter to win their Facebook Holiday Giveaway, and or follow them on Twitter….these handy little bags have some fun and creative ways to store stuff.   You can also enter below to win your very own Lay-n-Go LITE 18.

~Becky

Disclosure:  Giveaway is only available to US Residents.
Disclosure:  I was given the lay-n-go product to review, but all thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own.  

Heaven Just Gained our Best Angel

Christmas 2011

Many of our readers have heard us speak of our beloved GaGa.  We have been road tripping to GaGa for six years, spent many hours on the phone with GaGa, drawing pictures with or for GaGa, and teaching our GaGa how to make the perfect funny face.  

Tonight our GaGa finished growing her Angel Wings as Mr D-man puts it and is now painting rainbows all over Heaven. 

While my heart aches as I have just lost my best friend, my secret keeper, and the person who taught me many of the important things in life; I also know GaGa is dancing on the streets of gold. 

We appreciate all the prayers, thoughtfulness, love, and everything else that everyone is sending our way.  I can never put into words how awesome and supportive you all are and how much I appreciate you!  

Thank You & May God Bless you all!

~Becky, Lesse, & D-man 

Wordless Wednesday and Star Gazing in the Park

The Pure Joy of just living life as we go!

These photos were shot the night of the Leonid Meteor Shower (November 16, 2012), the kids, one of my favorite gal pal, her daughter Abs, and I bundled up and headed out to the Cape Girardeau County Park in Cape Girardeau, MO for some brisk star gazing.  While we only saw a few falling stars; we saw a lot of laughter, a lot of love, and a lot of good time!  

Happy Wordless Wednesday! 

~Becky 

6 Ways to Give Back this Holiday Season

The Salvation Army logo (Anglophone Version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well folks, it is no lie that my household has been turned upside down, backwards, and well just plain messed up over this past year.  However, with all that has happened in my life it has made me think harder about what is important in life.  Not to toot my own horn, but I have always had a passion for charity, heck that is why I started Adventures Among Us in a roundabout way, to give back to those who needed knowledge and ideas of cool things to do as a family. 

Anyways with our boat rocking, or some days sinking, the kids and I have become more grateful for the things that we do have.  No matter where we are in life, there is always someone that has less than us, and while our world was upside down there are others that did not have shoes to put on their feet, food to feed their children, and many other basic needs that we are well blessed with. 

My first real HOLIDAY post of the season is a focused on places that GIVE BACK to the communities around them.  While my kiddos have a Christmas list longer than the San Francisco Bay Bridge (which I must disclose will be narrowed down greatly) we also have a list of places that help those with a list of needs!    

• Samaritian’s Purse Operation Christmas Child- my kiddos and I have packed shoe boxes for boys and girls several times over the past few years.  Our GaGa, got us started on this project a few years back and believe it or not at the beautiful age of 94 she is still packing her shoe box.  Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes filled with goodies, basic needs, and the Word of God to children all over the world.  While it gives me great joy knowing some other little boy and girl is receiving a gift, it is a bigger joy watching my little man and sassy woman pack their shoeboxes with care and love!  You can check out their websitefor more information on where to drop off shoeboxes, how to pack your shoebox, and even better you can follow your shoebox to the person that will be so happy you packed it!  

• Support our Troops with theAmerican Red Cross- I think we all can say we admire, love, and support those brave men and women that sign to defend our freedom.  However, if you are like me once they are out of sight out of mind you often forget the comforts they have left behind to protect our freedom.  By accident, okay not really, but I was doing some research for something else I happened upon the Red Cross Support our Troops webpage, and folks there are so many ways you can give back to our Military Men and Women.  Military Comfort Kits, Phone Cards so they can call home, and caregiver training programs that help teach those who care for our wounded soldiers when they come home.  You can visit the Red Cross websitefor more information about how you can help.    

• More than just the Red Kettle withthe Salvation Army - we are faithful in our house to dropping our change into the Red Kettles all over town and folks I am strong believer that every penny you give is a good cause.  Last week while I was doing a little research on my own and snooping around on websites, I clicked over the Salvation Army’s more ways to give link.  They have so many ways that you can give your time, talents, extra goods, and much more to those in need.  If you are interested in seeing, where you can put yourself to either work locally or internationally check out their website for complete details.     

• Toys for those Tots- with complete honesty here folks, while I attempt and work hard to teach my kiddos that material needs are not the most important things in the world, I cannot imagine my kids waking up without Christmas Gifts under the Tree.  I think that is probably every parent’s biggest fear and every year many moms and dads face the challenge of either food or presents for their babies.  Toys for Tots have been putting smiles on boys and girls faces since 1947 and are operated by the Marine Corps.  You can visit their website for more information on how to donate and what is in need. 

• Keep those kiddos Warm with Coats for Kids- you know those old coats, mittens, vest, hats, and well all that winter wear that is just laying around, grab them up and help another little person keep warm this winter.  Coats for Kids Foundation has events all over the USA and many local ones, you can also directly donate to their foundation online, visit their websitefor more information. 

• It Starts with a Gift and an Angel Tree- something that is foreign to me, but one of my faithful readers sent to me was a link to the Angel Tree Organization.  This program is a prison fellowship program that helps connect parents in prison with their children through Christmas Gifts.  While it may seem foreign to help someone that is in prison for who knows what reason, you have to think about that you are gifting to the child in the situation, and you are showing them that no matter what you have done forgiveness is always possible.  I know I am a quack, but I believe everyone deep down inside has good in them and can be reached through kindness.  For more information, visit their website.  

Now before I leave you friends, I am going to take a moment to tell you that these are just a few ways you can give back to your community.  While clicking through websites and making list of those places to that are super cool to give to I also saw ways that you can donate your unused airline miles, adopt military men or women to be your pen pal, send Christmas Cards to Veterans, donate pet food to help those who have pets, and the list goes on.  If you have a special talent, idea, or gift that you feel on your heart to give don’t hold back give it.  A gift from the heart no matter how big or small is the biggest gift we can give.

While our year has been topsy turvy, I feel so blessed to be able to not only give our gifts, but to also have the opportunity to share with our community ideas, stories, and the love that over flows in my heart. 

May Each and Every one of you have a Blessed and Merry Holiday Season!

Love Always,

Becky & Her Rotten, yet Adorable Sidekicks 

Christmas 2011

Every Storm Runs Out of Rain....A Personal Note

Today just as the perfect moment I got a text from one of my closest friends in the world, the text simply said “Gary Allan, Every Storm, you gotta get it”.  I waited a bit then Google'd the song and the words made me breathless, I often tell my friends that it is a God thing when those moments happen. 

It has been so difficult for me to actually sit down and put into words the way I feel, not only this week, but also every week.  I fear saying the wrong thing for messing up the rest of my life, I fear not saying enough and shutting down mentally, and I fear that I step on toes or running off readers when I do talk.

I deep down inside believe that life is beautiful and living your life to the fullest does not mean that you have to have everything you just have to love what you do have.  My house, my home, my family, my kids, my world, and my heart has been hit and destroyed by one terrible storm.  Every day I wake up and I pray that this storm has just been a dream, and then I pray that God will give me strength to weather this storm, and lastly I pray that he will remind me to continue to have faith in him through this awful storm. 

Some days I feel like I am alone in this world, other days I feel like I am surrounded, or being closed in on and just want to be alone.  There are moments that I am raising my hands and praising God for all my blessings, then there are moments that I am raising my hands and “Why in the hell did this happen to me?”   

To say that I love my kids, is an understatement, to say that my kids are my world is not saying enough, to be honest I am not sure that my world could continue without my kids.  I look at their little faces and my heart not only overflows with joy, but my heart breaks knowing that they are weathering this storm right beside me. 

This week unexpectedly I have met several moms that are standing in the same spot as where I stand today, feeling similar pain as I feel, and having the same fears as I am having.  It felt good to know that I am not the only one that cries myself to sleep, I am not the only one who worries for their babies future, I am not the only who praises and then questions God, and I am not the only one who feels like shutting out the world.

While I have no solution, no answer, no words of wisdom, no heart-to-heart to advice, no place to send you to find your happy place, no key to the open the magic door.  I can tell you that our storms will run out of rain, every dark night turns into day, and every heartache will fade away, don’t be scared to talk you might find someone fighting a similar battle. 

Hugs to my fellow Moms & Dads that are facing a same storm. 

~Becky 

Happy Halloween from Our House to Yours

So I got this crazy cool software this past week and decided I would mess around with it after shooting our family Halloween Photos.  About 2 minutes into this project I FELL IN LOVE with this software!  I am always making slide shows, layouts, and different junk with my photos, but My MemoriesSuite Digital Scrapbooking Software v3 turned this little project into something RAD without all the blasted headaches.

What is My Memories Scrapbooking Software; a program that helps you digitally creates scrapbooks and allows you to share them in multiple ways.  In a few days I will be offering more of a review of this cool software, but wanted to take the chance to share our Halloween Video we created with the help of My Memories Scrapbooking Softwarev3. 

~Becky



Use Savings Code STMMMS37102 to SAVE $$$$$

Disclosure:  I was given a free download of My Memories Scrapbooking Software in return for a review, however all thoughts, opinion, and photos are my own!  

Cape Giradeau Missouri at Sunrise

To my own shame I woke up extremely early this morning unable to go back to sleep, the truth is I miss my kiddos like crazy.  This morning I made the best of it and headed to Downtown Cape Girardeau, MO to catch the sunrise over the Mississippi River.  There is nothing more breath taking than a peaceful morning, and there was a sweet reminder of my little man as I watched a tugboat come down river….I could faintly hear in the back of my head his squeals of excitement. 

I leave you this morning with a bit of Cape Girardeau Missouri Eye Candy and this Bible Verse, that was gentle reminder to me that this better days ahead!  

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

The Riverfront Park 

Sunrise over the Mississippi River

Sunrise over the Mississippi River

D-man will <3 this Picture!  He <3's BOATS

Main Street just at Sunrise 

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge 

Mississippi River

My photos are all shot with Canon EOS Rebel T3

~Becky