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Friday, March 21, 2014

Keeping Up and Spring Break

Spring is here and everybody seems to be shopping.  Keeping my space full at Antique Plaza is like maintaining a punch bowl at a summer wedding!

Before we went out of town for spring break, I took several truck loads of furniture over to my booth, #52.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces!
SOLD

SOLD

This piece only weighs about 1,000 pounds, but boy was it fun to paint.

SOLD



And mirrors galore!

With all that work, I was ready for vacation.  For spring break, the counselor and I took the kids down to southern Arizona, visiting many sentimental sites for this family.  The counselor's dad grew up in St. David, a small town just outside of Tucson. It's a strange sort of beautiful.  Although the home is old and on it's last leg, to know it was built in the early 1900's and cared for the Lofgreen family makes it beautiful to us.

The counselor told stories, reminiscing about how he and his dad would through a tennis ball over the roof; back and forth for fun.  In the day, his grandma had a beautiful garden and flowers.

Now, the school across the street was the only place we saw green grass in the entire town.  The kids raced back and forth when the counselor and I noticed what appeared to be tiny white blossoms dropping to the ground like snow. 

 They literally were falling out of the sky.  We followed the sky path of "blossoms" to a giant cottonwood tree near a wash.  Let me tell you, this town is in a drought, so to find water next to this tree was awesome.

This giant tree was sending out these "spring snow flakes" from it's splitting pods and they were drifting onto the grass.

We gathered the kids and watched as the blossoms blew into the open air, eventually falling into our hands or onto the ground.  Knowing our families ancestors were near, the whole experience was very spiritual. It was like angel dust falling off their wings as they fluttered around us.

Eden found a branch and made some "snow" of her own.

We visited the town's cemetery and found some of the early settler's who were related to us.  Even Reef could read the headstones and look for the Lofgreens.  We talked about families, how they are eternal and we can live together even after we die.  I believe some of these family members can be our guardian angels.

Near the cemetery was a beautiful little creek. I love finding water in the desert and watching it create its path. 

The next day, we traveled to the Chiricahua National Monument.  This is the counselor's most favorite place in the world.  He loves these back hill ruins; voodoo stones or wonderland of the rocks and has been here many times to explore.  He really is happiest out in nature.

Four years ago, the counselor and I along with the kids did the 3.5 mile hike; however, two years ago, a fire swept through and hit many spots of the canyon. It was like seeing a friend after surviving a horrific illness.  We know how beautiful the canyon can be, she just has some diseased spots that need to heal.

We started at the top and hiked down.

The boys/men found all sorts of places to explore.





We had lunch by a small stream. 
I just love the sound of water, even if it's the tiniest water fall ever.

It was great at first, but then someone wanted to be carried out.

A true test of endurance and some sore calves afterword, but we did it.  At one point, I tied that little girl on my back with her sweater and she piggy-backed it out.


There are so many beautiful places to visit in Arizona.  What I love the most is finding the best of my children in each place we visit.

One last surprise was Cochise Mountain.  Do you see the Indian Chief in the rocks.  If you can imagine him laying down looking up at the sky with his fancy headdress, you just might spot his defined chin and protruding nose.

Linking up to:
  


Friday, March 7, 2014

Backyard Sale Tomorrow Saturday March 8

Don't miss our best sale yet.  2541 E. Adobe St. Mesa, 85213.  Here's a sneak peek...











The Ordinary is Beautiful

A few weeks ago, my son Mayer came home with an assignment from school – he was to read an historical fiction book and present a report to the class. He had a long list of approved books.  I’ve always loved Laura Ingalls Wildier, possibibly because we share the same name.  I have all her books here in the home, so Mayer picked out Little House in the Big Woods

We immediately started reading.  His expression was so sweet when he realized the main character’s name was Laura.  “Like your name,” he said.  We read about the difficult tasks of collecting and preparing foods, hunting and staying warm, surviving confrontations with bears and beehives.  It was a wild world out their, but the real life lesson was the time I spent with my son.  Mayer wanted to read everyday, but primarily to cuddle.  It was our time; just him and I.
   
A few days ago, a friend of mine (thanks, Dyan) shared this passage written by author William Martin.


Wow, did I need to read this.  This world is moving so fast and my children are changing every day.  I can barely keep up.

When Mayer received his assignment, I didn’t think I had the time to read an entire book with him. What I learned is I must make the time, for that is the best gift I can give my children – my time. 

What was so wonderful is Chandler offered to paint a couple things for me while I was reading with Mayer.  Check out this little beauty he finished.  

And Payson helped with this piece.  I only helped with the distressing and staining.  
Way to go, Chandler and Payson.


We squeezed in time to attend family math night at the school.  

And Eden played dress up with the countless dresses I’ve collected for project:USED.  


To read more about project:USED and my campaign to raise awareness for sexual abuse, click here.  
Have a great weekend.
Linking up to:

Thursday, March 6, 2014

12,000 Prayers and Counting

On February 9, 2014 there was a pedestrian/car accident near the Gilbert Temple here in Arizona.  Two people I deeply care about were involved in this accident; Gilberto and Laura Laparra.  

I have been friends with the Laparra’s for over 10 years and dearly love them and their four daughters; Michelle, Shannon, Pamela and Priscilla. I wrote about Gilberto here, because he shared his time and talents to build my author website at www.lauralofgreen.com.

According to Gilberto, the accident happened like this:

Saturday afternoon was very beautiful and we parked on the corner directly across from the Gilbert Temple. We walked to the corner on the North side of the street and began crossing the street from West to East. Just before reaching the opposite curb I realized that 2 cars in the center of the intersection were about to crash and I sensed it was dangerous for us to be there because either car could spin off in any direction. I pulled Laura by the hand and all of the sudden one of the cars ripped her away from me and forced me in the opposite direction…thrown to the ground. I ran to search for her and I found her under one of the cars. I stood up and screamed with all of my strength that someone help me to move the car. Two people came to my aide and somehow we moved the car…. Upon seeing her so beat up, I felt that I had lost her and I yelled to call 911, several people held me back to calm me down and one man approached stating that he was a doctor, I tried to get myself under control and I asked everyone to step aside so that I could give Laura a blessing… I approached her and gave her a blessing…the paramedics took her away and my heart feared the worst, they checked out my back and took me in another ambulance, my mind was overwhelmed in thinking that I had lost her and my entire being was filled with an inexplicable pain. My friends began arriving [at the hospital] and give me comfort and 4 hours later I was given notice that she was still alive but on the brink of death.

In this moment, Laura is still in a very fragile state in a medically induced coma to control the swelling in her brain. The doctor told me the day after the accident that she was still very fragile and anything could occur, he said that with a little bit of luck everything would turn out well, but with a little bit of bad luck we could lose her. He stated that if she does recover she would surely have facial paralysis together with a few other serious consequences…. Never in my life have I prayed with such intensity and with every fiber of my being, I cry out to God to strengthen my faith, which has been debilitated. 

In the past three days God has answered my prayers, my faith has been strengthened and is strong…. So how has all of this been possible? Through you my dear friend, through your prayers of love towards myself and my beautiful princess. I can feel the strength and faith from many of you, I know with all of my heart that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind and that he died for us, I know that families are eternal and that miracles exist through our faith. A huge thanks to each of you for your empathy and concern
. 


When I found out about the accident, I was heart broken.  I ran and told the counselor and my kids.  How does something like this happen to someone so good?  Laura is a shining princess, doing so much in her life to bless and serve.  Her husband Gilberto is amazing and smart, loving and dedicated to his family.  Laura is strong and determined, kind and aware of the needs of others.  Everyday I prayed and thought of them, of her.  Something inside me wanted to be more like her, just to have a feeling she was near – that she would be ok.  Could I be kinder?  Reach out more? Serve those around me?

The week of February 16th was a tough one for Laura and those who loved her.  No one knew what the outcome would be or if she would make it or not.  We were told she might stay in the medically-induced coma for weeks or months.  No one knew the damage and nothing was predicted.  She was lucky to even have a fighting chance, but what a battle she faced.  I saw this photo and cried.  There was beautiful Laura. 


About 9 days after the accident, Laura took a turn for the worst.  I remember reading the facebook post – she had been rushed to have a cat scan and possibly surgery.  Even Gilberto couldn’t be with here and my heart sank.  I couldn’t handle the suffering of this beautiful family.  The pain was too much.  I turned to Mayer, my only child home at the time and said “Let’s pray.”  We dropped to our knees and offered a heartfelt prayer.  It had been shared that Gilberto and his daughters finished their prayers “Not my will, but Thine be done.”  I tried to have the faith to end my prayer this way, but I couldn’t.  All I could do was plead to God, “Please let her live.”  I couldn’t imagine Gilberto and their beautiful daughters living without Laura. 

Near the end of the week Shannon and Laura, two of the Laparra’s daughters were participating in a huge cultural event for the Gilbert Temple with 12,000 other youth from the Gilbert/Queen Creek area.  You can read more about the event here.  As they gathered for rehearsal, they had a prayer for Laura.  Can you imagine?  12,000 people with eyes closed, arms folded in reverence talking to God on Laura’s behalf. 
So many people were praying for Laura, 12,000 and counting.

Later, Gilberto wrote on facebook:

My dear friends, today at 6 am Laura recognized me, and a tear came from her left eye... today is one of my best days of my life. I love you all, please keep praying with me.

Slowly, Laura began showing signs of improvement.  She could open her eyes, acknowledge those in the room and then she wrote the words "Love you."  She was finally able to breathe on her own, sit up and then stand up.  How did Laura go from the brink of death to earlier this weekend being moved to rehabilitation center?  Thank you to the doctors and all those who are so well-trained and aware of just what she needs.  All I can say is it’s a miracle, a mighty miracle indeed.  



This weekend, Saturday March 8th there is a benefit garage sale to help with the costs associated with this accident.  Please, if you’re nearby and would like to contribute, it would be greatly appreciated.  The garage sale is at 8104 E Peralta in Mesa Saturday from 6 am-1. Details and updates are on a blog set up for Laura here.  


For the full news story, click here.  
Linking up to:
Jenny Matlock