Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Claire and Jane Sing at a Benefit Concert for their parents



Or click HERE to see this same video, but by the professional camera and microphones!

Christian and Stephanie Nielson -Their Story

NIE DAY at the New and Beautiful, Habit Salon



NIE DAY AT HABIT SALON - NOVEMBER 22nd!!! (yes it changed)
BENEFIT FOR STEPHANIE & CHRISTIAN NIELSON

Here it is, I'm SO excited!!! But we need YOU to make it successful!! It's going to be a fun day. If you don't want to cheat on your stylist, (which is the only time to cheat and NOT feel guilty, lol) come get your hair washed and styled for your Saturday.

It is so important that we keep giving. Can I pull on the heart strings? After surviving a private plane crash, the Nielsons have spent the last two months in the Maricopa Burn Center. The first batch of cultured grown skin for them was placed for 100 pieces. Each piece of skin graph is about $1,500.00 EACH and they are little squares!! Stephanie will continue to have about 80 more surgeries in her lifetime. Her sweet Mr. Nielson was just able to leave the rehab center and move in with his parents. He is working with Legos to work his hands.

(The money is needed in so many different ways, besides all the lifetime of medical bills. Mortgage payments, car payments, water and electricity, health insurance, food, clothes for their four children. All the bills keep coming, even though Christian can not work, and will not be able to for a long time.)

I know you all are keeping up on these two, as I am. I've known Christian since I moved here 18 years ago. Same ward, one street over, my brother is his age and friend. He was in TwyceAround, the group my high school boyfriend was in. We had choir together and were both silly characters in the musical, "Music Man". And we sadly watched as his sister, Charity, pass away of a very rare form of cancer.

He is sweet, handsome and charming. A friend of mine ran in to him months ago and asked how he was. Christian replied, " I have a wife, kids and a house. I'm living the American dream!" We got a little chuckle out of it at the time. Is he for real? Are there really guys out there like this? So satisfied? As I get to know them as a couple and a family through the blogs, and his beautiful, spunky wife and adorable kiddos...I believe so!

I'm so glad he is okay, though my heart still aches for him. I talked to his mom. Mary, for a moment at the Blissfest. She was sleeping with Christian in the hospital every night. He must feel so alone. ( I'm tearing up. ) You are in my prayers.

I remember at the balloon launch shortly after it happened (at the Mesa Temple) writing notes of love and hope to attach to the balloons. As I wrote them down, "WE love you!", " We are Here!", I could feel Christian and Stephanie. And I knew they felt all of us.

As my sister started to help out with a garage sale for NIE in Agritopia (Shout out to Carolyn-kisses) I joined in. What an overwhelming feeling of love!!!

My sister, Jolleen, just finished another successful garage sale for NIE, and with all of your help, $4,700.00 was raised for the Nielsons!!! Thank you to those of you who helped out, donated and supported!!! We love you! Seriously, we do! (Check out her blog for amazing stories and videos about the Christian and Stephanie.)

I've never met Stephanie before, so I always felt a little strange talking about her on here. But some how I know her, and I think we all do. She is a selfless mom and in love with her man. She is beautiful, talented and silly!

I adore you, Stephanie. I'm here to help.

Last Saturday was a concert for Nie at Mt. View. With sister, Josie, and our new friend, Mary, -we went after the Big Nie garage sale. The artist was Mindy Gledhill. (Cute!!) I hadn't heard her before.

She went to school with Stephanie. What a perfect way to end the day. Stephanie's girl's (Claire and Jane) sang with Mindy. It was breathtaking...Laugh, cry, laugh, cry!!

I also met a girl who had come from Phoenix sitting next to me... (Amy, if you are out there? Find me!) Nie has touched her like the rest of us. We were instant friends.

Yes, tragedy can bring us together... I can just see Stephanie in Mr. Nielsons arms, on their front porch, watching their kids chasing each other in the yard, as the sun goes down, on their new farm in Provo...

The Nielson's, the Adorable America Dream... Let's help make it continue...

Oh ya, and we are designing a Limited Edition NIE T-Shirt for the participants of NIE DAY at Habit Salon. You don't want to miss out!

Friday, October 24, 2008

NIE GARAGE SALE!!! OCT. 25th!!!

Hey everyone!!! I'm sure you all know and love as I do, Stephanie and Christian Nielson, yes NIE!!
Tomorrow SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH my sister Jolleen is putting on the 2nd HUGE garage sale, in the name of NIE, where ALL proceeds will go to the NIE RECOVERY FUND!!! The last one hosted my Carolyn, we made over 5000.00. Can we beat it???? YES WE CAN!!(thanks Bob aka. the builder)

PLEASE click on my sidebar where it says "hopefornie" It will give you directions as well as a little more info on this great day!!! I know short notice but seriously who has the time??? Let's make it!!!

There will be Yummy handmade baked goods as well as other fun finds!!!! Come join us, come support NIE!!!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Oh Martha...






I would love to have a smiggin of your brains. I'd even do the jail time.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

sugar'd minds think alike

I woke up this morning to my sister (jolleen, the one I'm currently kickin it with) telling me to "shut my eyes" (they were before you came in!) I squeezed them shut and tried to go back to sleep? But she was SO dang loud pulling things out of a bag and laying them by my pillow. She went out and these childhood treats were there. I love stuff like this, bringing up old fun memories. I smiled to myself and couldn't believe she had got these for me...



because last night I found gum we use to get when we were little and I bought her a bag to set on her pillow!



and yes these are only some of the treats we would write on the list we would make Timmy go get for us!

join me, won't you?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Nothing like the Arizona sky



I have a love-hate relationship with this state, but this is what i love...The billowy clouds when a storm is coming our way, they can get so huge and feirce looking. I'm in love with the Sunrises... when it changes from darkness into rays and rays of orange, pink, and yellow bursting through the clouds. The sunsets, when it looks like angels are about to decend from behind the clouds, or that you could drive right into it setting. A close tie for first is the HARVEST MOONS, oh my, It gets SO enormous and low, the color is such a deep orange, ooooh I love it. Hmmm... and then there are those nights when the sky is so clear and you can see SO many stars. I always search for the 7 sisters, not sure why, or even the story behind why they are called that but, I blow them a kiss just the same.

SOMEBODY has my ears..

I HEART this candle!!!




Hi my name is emily, and I'm a candleaholic. I found this one 2 years ago at Fry's. Last year when Halloween was over I bought, well ummm, A LOT of them (they were discounted - don't judge.)
It fills the room and smells DAHvoon!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fall to me... is Nickel Creek




I have been listening to this band for about six years now. The first song I heard was "When You Come Back Down".
I remember the car I was driving and what street I was on. The beautiful way the instruments were played and the singers voice...I was in a trance, I was in love.
Soon after I bought the CD and have loved every song, and each CD there after. I have been to 3 of there concerts, they are truely AMAZING! Serious skills! The mandalyn is delicious!!! They are also very witty and play well off each other, which only added to the great concert. (oh and the lead singer, I think we had a moment :))
I do listen to them all year round- but especially this time of year. I sometimes get emotional. I feel like I'm in the countryside, with beautiful leaves changing....
They are unlike ANY sound I've heard. I also love that they each take turns singing songs, and each voice is fantastic. I wish I had just ONE song to suggest, but they are ALL good! Seriously? Seriously. Go get them.

Friday, October 3, 2008