WoW!!!

No this isn't a post about World of Warcraft.

This is in response to what individuals can accomplish when they work together.

Most of you read The Pioneer Woman, if you don't then definitely check it out. Ree posts funny stories, great recipes and beautiful pictures; trust me it is worth a few minutes out of your day.

Well last week I pulled up Ree's website and saw a post about Fat Cyclist with a request and contest for people to donate to his team for the Live Strong Challenge through the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Elden's (aka "FatCyclist") wife, Susan is battling cancer, you can read about her story and Eldens riding on his site. Ree put up a Nikon D80, (lens included) along with a copy of Photoshop CS4 as a raffle and everyone got a "virtual" Ticket for each $5 donated; she also gave away 3 copies of Photoshop CS4 just for posting a comment on her post.

Okay, now that is pretty cool in and of itself. One blogger posting a contest to help another blogger and his family. It is great when we can help each other out.

Now for the WOW!

Within the time for the contest (a couple days) 1,551 Pioneer Woman readers donated $28,632.

Now that is just awesome! In a time when there is overwhelming negativity and sadness it is refreshing to see such a large heartfelt expression of love and the desire to help one another.

I am always amazed at how we can all connect through something deemed so impersonal as the Internet. People who don't know each other, who will probably never meet face-to-face, live miles and worlds apart can come together to help support someone they don't even know. Knowledge of another person and their struggles are brought to light so that hundreds or thousands of people can offer up their thoughts, prayers and financial support to help.

Happy 4th of July!!

Yes, I know it is already the 6th......

So make it a Happy Belated 4th of July!!!

James and I drove down to my parents on Saturday morning and James' parents came up. A lot of other people came over too and it was a great time as always! I am still so thankful that we can do things with both of our families, I know that for many people that is not the case.

Not only can James and I, my parents and his parents all be in the same place, but we enjoy it! We are planning to get together to play games soon and to go out to dinner next year to celebrate all of our anniversaries (since we all were married in June, I guess we picked a good month)! I feel so blessed with all of our family and just wanted to share :)

Back to the 4th....

So I am a slacker and forgot to take pictures, I know Susie took some and will probably post on her blog. We got to spend some nice time hanging out on the deck, eating food and drinking peach margaritas...yes the margaritas started early again! We made 5 or 6 batches...I lost count :)

Then it started raining, so we moved the party indoors. My mom made shish-kabob (not sure is that is spelled right, but you get the point) and my dad grilled, they were very good; besides, I like meat! Potato salad, pasta salad, veggies, beans and of course guacamole! There is always a lot of food when we get together.

We saw a few fireworks that people set off, but mostly just enjoyed the company.

I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July!

Thank you to all of our service men and women, we appreciate all of your sacrifices that allow us to enjoy so much freedom!