Practically Pink--Open for Business!

It took a lot of planning, encouragement from family, friends and awesome readers, many hours of sewing, creating, and brainstorming, but I'm finally here! I'm so excited to announce that my Etsy shop, Practically Pink is finally open!!! 

Click on my banner or the photos below to head over to the shop and take a look around. 

I'll be adding more items throughout the next few days.  I'd love to hear what you think and which items are your favorites!  Click HERE to visit the shop. 

One Year Ago...

One year ago today, I found myself sitting in the waiting room at the hospital surrounded by family and friends. I had to say the hardest goodbye I've ever had to say in my life on that day... I had to say goodbye to my precious mother. 


I couldn't hold back the tears as I watched her slowly slip away. She was so weak that she couldn't talk to me anymore, but she made it very clear that she could hear all that I was saying. She found my hand under the sheets of her bed and gave it a big squeeze. It seems small, but it meant the world to me. I will never ever forget that goodbye.

 I will also never forget how many people prayed for us in the coming weeks and while she was sick. It was completely overwhelming at times, but so touching. I remember thinking to myself after the funeral..."I didn't know that so many people actually cared about our family." It was absolutely amazing to watch how people came out of their way just to show their support. I will never forget coming home from the hospital that night and reading all of your comments on my post. I felt so loved and still remember crying my eyes out after reading like the third or fourth comment. I still can't get over that so many of you put time into making this special card for me either. I still read it sometimes when I need encouragement.

Another thing that I will never forget is how we all had such peace when we left that night from the hospital. We all knew that as we walked to our cars, that Mom was dancing with Jesus; she had no more pain or suffering. I still wish I knew why she smiled right before she passed away, though... I guess we'll never know, but I like to think she was seeing glimpses of Heaven or something. 

It's definitely been a challenging year for all of us, but this year as also brought a lot of joy back into our lives. I’ve grown so much in my walk with the Lord this year and He has helped us all through so much. We’ve never lost our trust in Him and have continued to live our lives the best we can, even if it is hard sometimes without Mom here. God definitely isn’t finished with this family yet and still has many plans for us. That’s one thing I’ve had to remember this past year, you have to keep living. You can’t just stop and let your life slip by. If you're going through this same thing in your life, please remember that.

I just want to say thank you again for each of your prayers and everything you've all continued to do for our family throughout this past year. I still receive an occasional email or comment encouraging me or letting me know that one of you is praying for me. It means so much. I know I say this all the time, but thank you for all being there for me, through the good times and the tough, through the tears and laughter. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am right now, without  all of you encouraging words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, sweet friends.

Also, before I close, I just want to say... I love and still miss you every single day, Mom. You’ll never ever be forgotten.

Hello Monday {26}

{Hello Monday}

{hello sleeping in late}

{hello breakfast and taking the dogs outside}

{hello devotion time on my bed}

{hello blogging and lunch}

{hello watering plants and flowers on the deck outside}

{hello visiting with a neighbor}

{hello browsing Pinterest}

{hello supper and family time}

{hello mini photoshoot with Katie and editing pictures}

{hello reading before bed}

This post was inspired by Lisa Leonard. If you want to participate in {Hello Monday} too, then please give credit to Lisa in your post. She is the first one to start this weekly blog series.

"So long, farewell, we hate to say goodbye"

This year's beach trip has officially ended as of this afternoon...It's very sad to say the least, but in a way, I was ready to come home.  We all got really sunburned this year, so it's nice to not be in the sun today.  

We got back this evening about supper time and (sadly) it's back to the real world tomorrow.  ;)

     We had such a wonderful time this year and of course, made many memories. ;)     

This year, we decided to take family pictures after supper on our last night down there.  It worked so much better than rushing to get out of the condo in the morning on Sunday and after getting the cars packed, we hear these famous words. "We didn't get any pictures for the calendar!"  

Yes, I know my family well. ;)

We went down to the beach after supper last night, and before our movie night, and ended up getting some really fun pictures. 

Kasey and Caroline

  

My handsome bro ;)

So long beach.  It was wonderful this past week.  Hopefully, I'll see you again before summer ends this year, but we'll see. 

P.S. Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!  You're the best!  I love you bunches!!!!

This is what summer looks like...

Today is simply gorgeous down here!  We're all in the condo getting some lunch and putting more sunscreen on right now, so I thought I would post a few pictures from this morning while I had a few minutes.  

   Soaking up some sunshine and reading books on the beach.  It's so beautiful today.

        

Andrew, my dad, and Cindy got here last night and will be staying the rest of the week.  So glad they were able to get off work and come down!  Also, Katie is coming down this afternoon too, so now everyone will be here until Sunday.  Yay!

Look how blue the sky and ocean is today!  It's lovely. ;)

    

Well, everyone else is finished with lunch now, so I'm headed back outside.  Have a wonderful afternoon, sweet friends!

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Night on the Town

Today was spent on the beach, sitting around the pool, playing games, and waiting for Matthew to get down here.  We went back to the pool for a few hours after he got here and then came back up to the condo to get ready to go out on the town for the night.  

You can't come to the beach and not go out to eat at least once or twice, so we decided to go to Sanitary Restaurant for supper. 

These two ladies are so special to me.  Oh the memories we've made together this week.  Between Kasey and I screaming our heads off while jet skiing, and all three of us attempting to make frappuccinos at 11:00 at night, (which I have to note that that little adventure ended with us almost breaking the blender AND falling on the floor laughing until we were crying.  We had way too much ice in the container and the top almost flew off)...it's been a great week.  

P.S. I don't see any of us working at Starbuck's in the near future.  ;)

Caroline and Matthew

Uncle Bobby, Aunt Kim, and yours truly

This girl is adorable ;)

After a wonderful supper, we did a little bit of shopping in some of the nearby shops. 

"That's a great look for you, Kasey."

All the "young people" as grandma would say. 

Cousins!!

Something must have been hilarious...

"Oh, girl!"

Another great day at the beach. ;)

"I love long walks on the beach."

Caroline and I just got back from one of the longest walks on the beach that we've ever been on...

 Oh my word. We walked so far tonight.  We didn't realize how far we had walked because we were talking  so much and then realized after it started getting dark that we actually had to walk back to the condo.  

Did you know that the beach is kind of creepy when you only have your cell phone to use as a flashlight? Haha...yeah. We actually ran part of the way back because it was getting so dark...

Anyway, we both thought we would never make it back to the condo, but we did...safe and sound.  No worries. ;)  

I did snap a few pictures of my gorgeous cousin before the sun went down.  

Cutie ;)

Happy girl right there.  One of my favorite places EVER.  

Pretty seashells.  Picture credit goes to Caroline. ;)

Another full day at the beach...

Caroline late last night: "You know what we should do this year?  Me and Kasey: "What?"  Caroline: "We should totally get henna tattoos while we're here."  Me and Kasey: "WHAT?!!  No way.  Caroline!  Aren't those bad for you?!" 

I honestly don't really know the answer to that, but we did find out that they only last about two weeks and it's only an ink that stains your skin temporarily.  After calling our parents to ask what they thought, we decided to get really cheap *small* ones when we went shopping this afternoon.   

Caroline got a music note/heart on her wrist.

I got a little dragonfly on my ankle. 

 

And sweet Kasey ended up getting a flower on her ankle.  

This was probably only a one time deal for all of us, but it is kind of fun to say "we got tattoos" and hear people freak out before we tell them it's not real.  Haha!  We all have agreed that getting permanent tattoos is dumb and very unattractive.  ;)

Also, we went night fishing tonight after supper!  

It was so windy!!

We didn't end up catching anything tonight, but it was lots of fun.  ;)

I would write more, but we're about to settle down to watch a girly movie (the Notebook) with Aunt Kim.  I'm off to check out what kind of ice cream we have in the freezer before it starts.  

Until next time, 

Em