Simply Deneen

What I'm Reading

Not too long ago I found an author I really like.  Her name is Terri Blackstock and she writes Christian books.  I have long loved mystery and romance books and Terri mixes them together so wonderfully. I really got hooked on her books with the Cape Refuge Series.  I think it is one of my all time favorties and I am a little sad that there is not a fifth book in the series LOL.  Here is a look at the four book that make up this series.

Currently I am reading her book "Predator" and so far so good.  I will be back with a review of it once I am finished.  I will tell you now that I am a very slow reader but with that being said I can tell you that with the Cape refuge series I just couldn't put the books down and finished them quite quickly.  Here's a look at the cover of Predator.

Until Next time!

Happy Easter!!!!!

• Excited to spend time with those I love!
• Always love when I can take pictures of my girls!
• Sad that we didn't dye eggs this year!
• Thankful for Jesus' sacrafice for our sins!
• Especially missing my Dad today! (Easter was his favorite holiday)
• Remembering how excited the girls were to go Easter Egg hunting at Grandpa's each year!

The girls and I were talking and remembering one of our very favorite Easter memories.  We were at Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jeanne's house and the girls were getting ready for the big egg hunt.  Grandpa Tom told all of them that one of the eggs had something very very special in it.  The girls were running around like crazy gathering all the eggs they could find. When they were done we headed into the house so we could see who had found the very special treasure hidden within one of the eggs.  They took turns opening their eggs and lots and lots of money was being found.  Some had gold dollars in them some had 50 cent pieces others had dollar bills and there were even a few with five dollar bills in them.  Heather found the special egg! What was in it you ask?  A silver colored nut , we are talking a metal nut that goes on a bolt.  We all stared and Heather said "Grandpa what is it" and he replied "It's a nut just like you".  We all laughed at his joke but Heather took a piece of red satin ribbon and tied it around her little stuffed leopards neck and very seriously said "his name is now Nut".  Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jeanne had previously given her the little stuffed leopard that she has carried everywhere with her even on our vacations. 

 
This is Nut today looking a little worn but dearly loved and as you can see he still has that little nut tied around his neck with the very same piece of red ribbon!  I am so happy that the girls all still remember this little nut and the story behind it.  Funny they can not tell you how much money they ended up with that day but they can all tell the story of a simple metal nut that turned into quite the treasure because of a great man and his fun loving sense of humor!

May your Easter memories be as special as ours and may you have a wonderful Easter today!

Until Next Time!

Prom 2011

My girls went to the Prom last night and had a great time.  Holly asked her friend Mason to go with her and Heather decided to go alone and just have fun.  They were going in  a large group and one of the guys didn't have a date either so Heather and Andy took pictures together.  Here are a few I took before they left.  Not the greatest pictures but at least i got a few.

 

 
 
 

Our good friend Cary felt bad that Heather wasn't going to have a corsage so she went out and bought her one.  Heather was so very thankful and it really meant a lot to her.

Until next time

 

17 years ago today

One of the happiest days of my life happened 17 years ago today!  My precious twin daughters Heather and Holly were born at 11:58 and 11:59 p.m. from the first moment I laid eyes upon them I knew that our family was complete.  I love them more and more each day.  All they wanted for their birthday was to get their belly button's pierced and even though it is not something I could ever see myself doing I was ok with it.  I think it was hard for their daddy because it's just another sign that his baby girls are growning up.  They had it done yesterday and they both look so cute.  I will have to take some pictures and post them soon.  

Here are a couple of pictures that Chris Lenoard took of the girls recently (they are Senior class representatives for his photography business).

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 Aren't they beautiful? 

I love you both more than life itself and want nothing but the best for you always! Happy Birthday girls may all your dreams come true!

Until Next time!

So Glad We're Family...a layout

When I saw this layout by Nichol Magourik (she's one of my favorite designers) I knew I had to use her design on one of my layouts.  Nichol used one of Kerri Bradford's   (she's another of my favorite designers) templates which luckily I had already purchased so it worked out great for me.  Here is the layout that I made based on Nichol's design.

 

I altered one of Kerri's templates just a bit so it would work with my photo's.  In the bottom right corner I ended up using one photo instead of two and I love how it turned out.  To purchase Kerri's templates go HERE.  If you end up purchasing any of her templates I would love to see what you do with them so make sure to drop me a line and let me know.  I am proud to say I used my silhouette once again.  I am really trying to focus on using my silhouette more and also using what I already have in my stash instead of going out and purchasing more.

So what are you working on this weekend?

Until Next time

Flashback Friday

I have really been wanting to do some type of regular post but I just hadn't found or thought of an idea that might work for me, so when I saw this idea on Kelly Xenos' blog I knew right away that I wanted to give it a shot. So here is to my first Flashback Friday :) 

 
November 14th, 2006 I remember this day so clearly. It was the day I started my chemotherapy and I was scared out of my mind because I didn't know what to expect.  They tell you all the side effects that you might have and some are quite scary.  I remember thinking that I had to focus on the positive and not think too much about what could happen.  Over the next 6 months I did have some of the side effects but I was able to get through them by keeping a positive attitude and with the knowledge that there was an end to the treatment in site.  I am happy to say at this time that I appear to be cancer free and I am praying I will stay that way.

I am hoping to have these flashback friday posts at least twice a month to start with and I would eventually like to make it a weekly thing.  I just don't want to promise anything until I am sure I can follow through with it.

Until Next time!