Happy Blah-Blah Thanksgiving

I know you're all dying to hear about our wonderful Thanksgiving full of family traditions, and thankfulness, and giving to others. But I've got none of that for you.

We headed to Florida for Thanksgiving again this year with a sick Charlotte throwing up in the backseat. Thursday, Garrett was throwing up and by early Friday morning Randy and I were throwing up! Let's just say that we will not be eating corn or green beans for a looong time to come!

It took us 2 full days to recover and then we had to drive 12 hours back home, while stopping every hour or so because Garrett still had some belly issues!

We stopped in Ghettanooga, Tn for yet another potty break and Charlotte and I prayed the whole time for Jesus to protect us while our boys were sick in the Burger King.

We arrived home to a 56 degree house (as our heat was out) and all slept together in a way-to-small king-sized bed with sleeping bags and a space heater. (UPDATE: we got a new furnace today!)

My husband says I've been complaining a lot lately...hopefully this will get it off my chest!

Shop Amazon. End Duchenne.

As you know, Garrett was diagnosed this year with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There have been a lot of partnerships this year to raise funds to fight the disease through an organization know as PPMD (Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.) Another such partnership has recently developed with Amazon.

This holiday season, when you shop through Amazon, a percentage of your purchase goes directly to PPMD. All you have to do is click here for more instructions. The more people who use this, the higher the percentage of every purchase that supports our fight to end Duchenne!

Shop Amazon. End Duchenne. Save Garrett.

Headline News!

Its no secret: we live in a small town. But we didn't know how small until we saw the Sunday paper yesterday! Front page, mind you! I'm not talking about a small picture, it was a good 5in x 10in!

A fall ritual
Randy Sapp performs a fall ritual, blowing leaves on a Saturday afternoon. “We like them better when they are up there on the trees,” he quipped. Staff photo by Thomas Johns

He is sporting a P61 shirt too! You can see the page here!

Wisdom

One thing I pray for my children is WISDOM.

On so many levels: WISDOM to make good choices, WISDOM to trust in GOD, WISDOM for circumstances that Almighty God himself has chosen for us, WISDOM for things to come...

Everyday, we have to stretch Garrett's legs 2 times a day: when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. Its not a difficult thing to do, but it is a constant reminder to me of his disease. One morning, he was complaining about the stretching hurting his legs and that he didn't want to do it that day. Garrett said to me before I could even respond:

"I don't want to do theses stretches, but I know that if I don't, my muscles will get tight and I will have a hard time walking."

Then, he layed down on the couch for me to do the prescribed stretching routine, without complaint. I didn't even know he knew those things, but God granted him WISDOM for this time.

I don't know why I'm often surprised to see God granting prayed-for-WISDOM in their lives, but I am. If only I could apply the same WISDOM to my life and accept the things God has laid out for me because He knows best.

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 (NASB)

A Shameless Plug

I did another photo shoot on Monday and recently put some of the photos on my photography blog. I'm working on the new look for the photo blog plus adding some more features, like a contact page. In the meantime, you can always email me at ambersapp.photos@gmail.com or at ambersapp81@hotmail.com!

If you know anyone who needs family Christmas photos for gifts or Christmas cards or even business photos for corporate Christmas cards, let me know! My new business cards should be in any day.

www.ambersappphotography.blogspot.com

Shameless!

Giddy!

I have a deep relationship with my camera. I've been rough on the old-girl and she has been good to me. A few weeks ago though, my lens started acting up. So, I decided that I was going to look into a getting it fixed or getting a new one. Well, as it turns out, getting a new lens costs as much as getting the old one fixed. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to get a new camera! Why buy a new lens for an old camera when I could get a new camera AND and new lens?

So, I began hunting for a new camera to meet my needs ("wants" is a more appropriate term!) I've done a few small photo shoots lately and wanted to upgrade to something a little nicer. So, Saturday I picked up this baby:

Super fancy, huh? It has a hugo-fat lens on it that covers the same ground my old 1 did plus 60 feet! It has 12.3 MPs and an ISO capability of 100-6400! The lens is 67mm across! It can shoot 6 frames per second and has a 3 inch LCD screen with the new Live View option. It even shoots HD video with sound! Crazy, huh?! This is like car-talk for men! So, I am giddy! I get to use it tomorrow on a photo shoot and am so excited to see how things turn out!

By the way, if you want some family photos done before Christmas and before all these great leaves fall let me know soon. With the cost of this baby, my prices are gonna go up really soon!

Every family has one

I'm feeling a little rough today...you know, sweatshirt-and-Randy's-flannel pants-feeling rough. I had a photo shoot scheduled for this afternoon and I'm glad the rain cancelled!

Charlotte and Garrett pretty much had the run of the house this afternoon. They watched a lot of TV and had a lot of quiet play...a little too quiet!

As you know, Charlotte is my little "tester." This is what I found:

Upon first glance, you might think: "How precious! She's reading God's Word!" Look closer!

Yep, that's marker all over her face.

No pants and a little boogie picking too! Garrett said, "PUT some PANTS on!"

Pair it up with Mom's trouser socks AND striped Hello Kitty socks.

Makes for one cute little stinker!

Fallapalooza 2010!

We've had a very busy fall! We been to Gentry's Farm, had fall parties at school and fall festivals at church! I've been lazy about blogging about it all, so I'll Recap it all here!

I'm not sure if you all know this, but I take a lot of pictures! My kids just know to pose when they get around props like these!



These are from Gentry's Farm, where we go every year for some fun fall family fotos! (how 'bout that use of alliteration?!)


This is the kids' first year at a MDO program, and they love it! They have the sweetest bunch of teachers and helpers! Here are some shots from their fall parties! They had a hayride, pumpkin patch, and lots of sugar!


This is Charlotte's little class!




Here is Garrett's hayride!

Here is the annual pumpkin carving! This year, Granny and Papa joined us.

The kids dubbed the pumpkin innards as "goo!"

That brings us to the fall festival at church. The evening began with Daddy splitting his pants on an inflatable slide! I don't know why he wouldn't let me take his picture while he was still wearing them!

Here are Buzz and Princess Aurora! See the way she adores him!

Every princess has to twirl a little!

She is quite the poser!

Garrett talked Nana into going down the slide this time. Not sure who had the most fun!

This was actually taken at a little assisted living facility where we trick or treated a few weeks ago. There are not many photos, as my kids were not too happy we were there! The first room we went into, there were a lady's false teeth laying on her walker on which sat the bag of candy! Mommy had a hard time with that too!

Here again is a little sister who LOVES her brother! He can do no wrong in her eyes!!