Photo Contest-Vote for me!!!!

Disclaimer: This is a shameless plug...

My dear friend, Cynthia, is one of the most avid (and balanced) environmentalists that I know. She has inspired me in many ways but most evident is probably my new consistent use of reusable shopping bags.

On Friday, our families went out to dinner to celebrate Larry's birthday and the birthday card they gave Larry was the coolest thing! She had purchased it through the Arbor Day Foundation and the purchase goes toward planting a tree in one of our National Parks. This thrilled Emma (my little nature lover) and so today she decided to send an electronic version to her BFF, Madeline, in Indiana for HER birthday. While we were on the site we noticed a banner for a photo contest they are holding. The grand prize winner's photo will be featured on their Give-a-Tree cards. Emma and I got very excited because I enjoy (just for my own pleasure) taking photos of trees and plants that fascinate me. We immediately went through some of my more recent ones and chose the following photos to submit. (Each person can submit up to four photos.)

Please logon to Arbor Day Foundation to vote for one of my photos (you can search by photographer... under Melissa B.)

WIN!!! If you leave a comment here, I will enter you in random drawing to win your own personalized card with your favorite photo. You can get additional entries in the drawing by referring your friends to the link or posting it on your blog or Facebook. Just comment here with links to your "referrals" OR have your friend comment here with your name somewhere in the comment so you get credit for the referral!

Halloween is here again...

Yes. It's true. I know you have all been waiting. Holding your breath. It's the Annual Baldwin Family Halloween Photos! Wheeeee! Unfortunately, our scanner has some issues... sorry for the smears...

Bragging Rights...

Bragging on Emma today... her artwork and photo are featured on Snapfish's Mother's Day Page (she drew the horse and stable picture and her photo is on the featured photo necklace on the right side of the page)

Take a look!

Blog Giveaways!

Some dear cyber-friends of mine are participating in a bloggy

giveaway and I just love what they're offering...so I'm sure you will

too! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on THEIR site (not here, although you could send some love my way too and I won't complain). Both of these ladies traveled to China when we did and brought their daughters home too. First of all...look at these darling handmade hair bows that Tonni is giving away.

And then there's my dear cyber-twin, Melissa W. (who, BTW, has lost 55 pounds recently! Whoo-hoo! Way to go, Meliss!). Melissa W. is giving away some gorgeous handmade earrings.

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night...

and so begins "A Wrinkle in Time" by my favorite author of all time, Madeleine L'Engle.

My soul is bruised and sad today. I found out this morning that Madeleine L'Engle has passed into the "Ring of Endless Light" and somehow I feel she is regaling our Savior with her stories as she walks with him today.

tonight

Tonight I am tired, worn down...didn't sleep well last night, missing "us" time with my husband and waking with each passing thunderstorms and stirring child. I'm borrowing creativity tonight.

Trouble is I'm so exhausted
The plot, you see, I think I've lost it
I need the grace to find what can't be found

I wanna do better
I wanna try harder
I wanna believe
Down to the letter
-from "Long Lost Brother" by Over The Rhine