Father's Day Lamp

A couple weeks before Father's Day, 

I took my dad's mission slides from collecting dust in the basement.

Andy is really big into digitizing stuff because of the things he does with work.

So I told my dad that we were going to digitize them all for him. (Which as true).

I emptied all the boxes, and the carousels full of mission slides.

I then got started on digitizing all the slides.

After a few days, of digitizing, I finally finished with that part.

Next, I sorted all the slides by the dates that were on them.

Using a light box, I went through each year of his mission and chose the slides that I thought were,

most pretty of Alaska, fun of him on his mission, or something that stood out to me.

I lined them all up in the order that I wanted them to be on the lamp.

I loved how some of them had my dad's handwriting on them.

So instead of painting the white part of the slide, I left them all as is.

I used 2 sets of pliers, but found that ones without the big grooves in them are best so they don't tear up the metal rings.

I bought enough metal "Jump Rings" (located in the jewelry section).

Also, a 1/16" hole punch.

I measured where I wanted the holes to be on one slide, then punched the holes.

After doing one slide, I just used it as a template for all the others.

With both of the pliers, I opened the jump rings, and attached them to the slides in a row.

Then connected the rows together.

I had 4 rows of 12 slides.

The final product!

I had Andy film me giving it to my dad.

I plugged it into his room by his bed, and then asked him to come into the room with me.

I wished him a Happy Father's Day by giving him the box of his slides and said, 

"They are all digitized and everything, BUT there may be a few missing...."

Then walked into his bedroom to show him the lamp.

We both began to bawl and hug.

Basically, he LOVED it!

Exactly the reaction I was hoping for.

I'm so happy that he now can look at them every day instead of them being in a box collecting dust.

I love this dad of mine so much.

He's one of my best friends.

I truly am the luckiest girl around!

Love you dad!

Love, B

Next Chapter

Last Saturday was my last day of work.

Today concludes my first full week of not working.

For the last 6 years, I have been a dental assistant for my dad.

It was the best job I could have ever asked for.

I got to work {literally} next to my dad everyday.

Not only did I get to work with my dad everyday, but I also got to spend it with my mom.

She cross trained me during those 6 years to work up front with her.

I feel so blessed to have been able to work along side my parents for so long.

Even though I am not technically done completely, it'll be nice to have a break and be a 

"Stay-At-Home-Wife".

I am still working for my dad part time as his "Surgical Assistant". 

Which is only Monday & Friday's usually (and not every Monday/Friday).

I will continue to work that schedule as long as I can.

It should work when we eventually have kids, as well as now.

So I am really excited for this time in my life.

I've wanted for a while now to be able to quit.

It was a very hard decision.

In fact, I tried quitting and just couldn't do it then, so prolonged it to now.

It's definitely a bitter sweet feeling, especially when you love who you work for and what you do.

Taken on my last day 5/31/14

Andy and I are in a good place in our lives right now.

We are working together to accomplish a lot of goals we have.

We appreciate all the love and support our family and friends have shown us 

as we go through some changes over the next year or so.

But just so everyone stops wondering and asking....

NO WE ARE NOT EXPECTING.

So please don't ask, thanks!

Love, B

Peyton's Baby Blessing

Andy's brother Jarom and his wife Heather had their 5th child in April, and yesterday was her blessing day.

She was given a name and a blessing by her dad.

Peyton Kelly McDonald

She was awake the whole blessing, but didn't make a single peep.

She was more than perfect!

We are in love with her and definitely can't get enough of her!

Heather & Jarom took more pictures, but these are the only ones I have.

You can't tell me she's not the most adorable thing you've seen in a long time!

We love you Peyton!

You're dad blessed you with a lot of amazing things.

You are such a lucky girl to have the family you have.

Love, Aunty B & Uncle A

---

Heather's sister had a baby about 3 1/2 weeks ago.

She's the sweetest little down syndrome girl.

Her name is Zoey, and I couldn't give her to anyone else!

She has such a sweet spirit!

I just HAD to include a picture of her too so you can all go "goo goo" over her like I am!

I'm baby hungry...can ya tell?