Madyson's 11th Birthday

Wednesday March 4th was Maddy's 11th birthday. We wanted to make this a year of appreciation, letting her know of her great worth in our family, helping her to know she is a beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father and turning into a wonderful young girl. So, we started off the week with Family Home Evening - we (Mike and I) spotlighted her - our 10 favorite things about Madyson. She was glowing she was so happy - you could tell it made her feel so special.

Mike's 10 Favorite Things about Maddy!

1. I love when she fakes she is in trouble and pretend cries to trick me.

2. I love her cute little grin when she's happy.

3. I loved when she was younger, when she made out bed and put little candies on our pillows.

4. I love her cuddles.

5. I love how she says "I love You" at least 100 times a day!

6. I love when she helps around the house without being asked.

7. I love her independence.

8. I love how she's becomming more like her Daddy.

9. I love her giggle laugh.

10. I love her morning hugs.

Deb's 10 Favorite Things about Maddy!

1. I love her beautiful red hair.

2. I love her smile and her real laugh when she doesn't know anyone is listening.

3. I love how she always asks if there is anything I need help with.

4. She is good to always include everyone when she plays.

5. I love how everytime she leaves the room she says, "I love You!"

6. I love the way she looks at herself in the mirror when she feels pretty.

7. I love seeing her in the morning. She is always happy when she gets up and gives the best snuggles.

8. I love that she likes to try new things - except food. :-)

9. I love that she is a leader.

10. I love how much she loves me all the time, even when I have had a grouchy day.

Recipes...Please

So, fellow blogging friends, I am so incredibly bored with cooking the same old things for my family. I was wondering if any of you are intersted in trading some recipes? I am on a healthy journey trying to find yummy healthy recipes that kids and a picky husband will eat. Anyway, if any of you want to join in with me, I'd love to share and compare. I wish you were all close enough that we could even get together and try new recipes in person so this is the next best thing.

Have a good week!

Pay It Forward Love Notes!!

I've never seen this before but it looks like it could be fun and this is a fun time to be leaving sweet notes to friends and family so here goes!!


"Here's how it works-the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well-before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. (Or you can cut and paste from this one like I did) Then come back, let me know you're going to play, and sit back and wait to receive your fun gift!! Remember that only the first 3 comments will receive a gift from me, so hurry, hurry, hurry!


Please remember to either put your address on here or email it to me. (Thanks)

Crazy Week...Monday was just here.

So, this has been a crazy week! We have been so blessed, when I came back to work after my surgery and recovery, I had like two people a week one week and then maybe like 10 people the next week, it was so crazy, I was so slow. But this week and last week have been amazing with business. I am loving what Ido too! It was kind of good to have a month off so that I could have a chacne to come back with fresh excitement and healthy energy to do what I do.

Mike is struggling with his neck still/again. He is back in physical therapy and we are hoping that it will be as successful and last time. Either way, I am just glad that i am doing so much better so that I can take care of him this time. If he ends up having to have surgery, at least I will be able to be there for him.

Maddy is doing wonderfully in school right now. She is really working hard to overcome her obstacles with learning and has basically surrendered to the fact that we will sit down with her every night if that is what it takes so that she has the help she needs. So, she is now bringing her stuff home from school more regularly and we are working hard together. She is going to start a theater class next week and she is really excited for that. She is also in math club now and made it into a class call "uniquely Me" I think, which is an after school program for girls where they just get together and learn more about being a girl and doing what girls do. It is a lottery system to get in and she made it so she is really excited about that. She still loves volleyball and has an interest in softball as well so we told her next year she could decide what she wants to do and play in team sports. I secretly hope she does volleyball but we'll see what she decides.

I can't believe she is turning 11 next month. She is growing up so fast and she really is an inciteful little girl. We love her so much!!

Several of our family members are struggling right now and I wish so much that I could do more to help alleviate their pain, but we pray for you all everyday and hope you know we are here if/when you need us.

25 Random facts about Deb

This is kind of fun...after several tags on facebook I decided to do this and I have been having so much fun reading the facts about my friends I thought I would post this for the non facebook readers. Just 25 random facts about me. Mike will put his on here too later.


1. I don't usually do these and it's taken several to get me to bite - although I have loved reading and learning more about my friends.
2. My favorite thing to get up each day for is to be a wife to my loving husband and to be a Mom to my daughter(step). They are the most important people in the world to me.
3. I sometimes think I love dogs more than people and I love people which is why my dogs are incredibly spoiled.
4. My dream is to be a country singer. I tried it for awhile in Nashville but it was HARD so I left, but I still always dream of one day...
5. I grew up without really having my family close so my friends have always been my family and there are a few who got me where I am today and loved me through it all - you know who you are.
6. I always wanted to be great at sports - I guess I was a jack at several trades but not an expert at any - well, maybe water skiing - I was pretty good back in the day!
7. I dream of having more kids - a baby of my own - but it looks like it might not happen in this life. That is my sadness.
8. I like to be needed and valued by the people important to me.
9. I want to go on the tv show - Don't Forget the Lyrics" and make lots of money.
10. I sang in a country band and also a pop/rock band for several years before I got married.
11. I am totally and completely afraid of bugs - I mean, to the point of crazy heart palpitations at the very sight.
12. I have a problem with road rage. Although, I do not flip the bird at people. Just silent lecturing and horn honking.
13. I got two regular tickets and 3 radar tickets this last year and so I am no longer allowed to speed. Although, I think really it is just that I am no longer allowed to get caught.
14. My favorite date night ideas are going to a concert or sporting event or going to dinner and a movie.
15. I always said that I would never live in Arizona because of the heat and the scorpions and now I call it my home...ironic, don't ya think?
16. I love to drive on road trips and sing for hours and hours. It is very freeing. My favorite Road Trip buddy is Blake...He used to really make me think about life with our long talks and drives.
17. I think I can be imaptient at times but I try to work on it.
18. My biggest fear in life is losing the people I love.
19. I have been a massage therapist now for 12 years and I still love what I do.
20. The highlight of my career was the 2002 Winter Olympics - working with the Skeleton Team. I really miss those guys.
21. I want to travel to Italy, Ireland and Germany with my husband someday.
22. I would love to one day retire and live in teh mountains where there is snow in the winter and blue sky in the summer but not too hot.
23. I can get my feelings hurt easily but I forgive easily and hope I don't hurt others' feelings as easily.
24. I love to watch TV, there I admit it, I love to watch my shows.
25. I am very blessed.

Are You Serious???

It just seems as if the fun in the Malone clan just cannot stop. We spent most of last year worrying over Debbie and now that she's getting better, we find out the other day that my sister, Shelly, has stage 3 breast cancer. That hit Debbie and I very hard, seeing how young Shelly is.

So we've been praying for her and how we can help. Debbie gets the impression that we need to drive up there and allow Debbie to work on Shelly and help her body get prepared for the surgery ahead. So next weekend we are going up there. We were able to work out an agreement with Cat so Madyson gets to come with us too.

So once again we are calling upon friends and family to pray for Shelly and her family (husband + 5 kids all under 10). They really could use it.

Angie...please come back soon!!!

My sister Angie was here this month for Christmas and to help take care of me. She is so much fun and so filled with life. She went back home yesterday and I cried all the way home from the airport.