Christmas Table Runner, Sunflowers & Our Marines

I finally finished this project.  So excited!!  If I am completely honest ... this pattern has been waiting for my attention for a long time.  I started working on it last year in hopes of finishing for Christmas 2012.  Well, I just finished it!!!  So hey ~ instead of being late for last year .... it will be early for next.  I think it's a cutie ...

Since the weather has been so pretty ~ sunny and warm ~ we have been doing lots of fun things outside.  Last year I wasn't able to plant our sunflowers and have been so anxious to get them in the ground.  Here is where the seeds are planted, hopefully getting all warm and cozy in the dirt ..... just wait ~ you won't believe how big these beauties get.  The lavender bushes are in the foreground.  They have been through a tough winter with no protection from the snow.  But every year they come back and provide sweet fragrance and pretty flowers for us. 

Prayers Please!!  This is our #3 son on his first tour of Afghanistan.  He will be headed back for his 2nd tour sometime in September.  We couldn't be more proud of him and what his commitment means to our great country and to our family.  But as a concerned Mom and Dad, we are always hopeful that our men and women will all be home safe and sound from that region .... soon.

His twin sister is also proudly serving our country.  Yes, really!!  She is stationed in Okinawa and just returned from an exercise in South Korea.  She is happy to be back in Japan.  

Encourage each other ... every day!