Thursday, June 28, 2012

Remember that book?!

I posted in January about using my Amazon points and buying a book to read. I had planned to read this book after the girls went to bed or while they napped. Although during the post, I was worried that I would never read it, well six months later and the book has yet to make it out of my nightstand drawer. Isnt that sad? I love to read, used to read a book every couple of days. But my time is coming, the girls are getting on a better schedule, and soon we will be at the beach. The ride down alone is 8 hours and I am one of those weirdos that can read in the car without getting sick.

I keep getting emailed from Double Day Bookclub, I used to be a member, I have spent a lot of money on books. All books that have been read over and over. I think that is what is making me want to read again, seeing those emails and being reminded that one time of day I would just sit for hours and read.

So the book is being packed in my bag and taken to the beach. I will make an effort to read it this summer and maybe this fall, I can purchase another book from Amazon that will be practically free because of all my points.

But life is busy, just the way I like it. And with Hailey becoming more mobile, I am on my toes more now that I have been in a while. Both girls are everywhere, playing all the time, and into everything. So maybe bedtime will become my reading time. But I will bet, 9 times out of 10, I will be asleep right along with them. Like I said, we have busy days.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Summer Time Fun

We have been really enjoying the summer so far, lots of pool time and lots of family time. The girls are growing more in love, they are learning to share, and they are enjoying having time with their cousins.






Tuesday, June 26, 2012

An Awesome new ORDER form-31

This past month, Thirty-One has revealed its new order form that now allows you to automatically give to Thirty-One Gives. At the bottom of the order form there is a spot to round up the nearest dollar amount and that amount will be submitted to our charity fund.

I love this because we can always do a little something to help others, if we are spending almost $60 to buy our favorite purse why not give that extra .07 or .18 to a woman that could really use it. Whether you are ordering from my 31 business or another consultants, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity and share the wealth.

Help a young woman or girl by celebrating and empowering her, help that woman to believe in herself and thrive with her family, friends, and her business. It is up to us women to take care of each other, listen to each other, and to help one another.

(****These are my own thoughts and opinions, Thirty-One did not ask me to post this, I am an Independent Consultant and want to share with my customers****)

Disney/Pixar's BRAVE - "Will O' the Wisps"

THE LORE
WILL O’ THE WISPS


Travelers—particularly those who venture out after sunset on unfamiliar pathways—beware of the will o’ the wisps.

It is said—though by whom is a bit of a mystery—that on certain days for certain travelers in certain parts of the world, little lights dance on the horizon, whispering tempting invitations… pledging the answers to lifelong questions, the realization of dreams, a key to secret treasures—a change of fate.

Charmed and curious, unsuspecting travelers follow the floating lights, mesmerized by their whispers, their promises. Yet no matter how long or how fervently they follow, they never quite touch the beautiful beacons whose flickering lights eventually fade and disappear… leaving the inquisitors, the dreamers and the treasure seekers lost… and alone.
* * *

In “Brave,” Merida spies tiny blue lights after escaping into the forest in search of a change of fate. Forming a path that dares her to follow, the lights lead Merida to a mysterious location that holds the power to change her destiny—just not in the way she imagines.

“The will o’ the wisps are in a lot of Scottish folktales,” says “Brave” director Mark Andrews. “They were said to lead you to treasure or doom—to change your fate—but they’re an actual phenomenon of swamp and bog gas seeping up through the earth and interacting with the natural resources to create the blue flames. People would follow these lights thinking they were little fairies, and basically drown or get sucked down into the bogs.

“We made the wisps like actual little spirits,” Andrews continues. “They’re almost like Marley’s ghost in a way, because Marley’s ghost isn’t an evil spirit—even though he’s frightening, he’s trying to warn Ebenezer to change his ways. That’s what the wisps are doing. There’s a duality to them, because they’re either good or evil—they lead Merida into more and more trouble, but in the end, they’ve led her exactly where she needs to go.”

Monday, June 25, 2012

Ms. Hailey Grace

This chick is now 8 months old. How in the world does it happen so fast? Anyone that has more than one kid might agree that you always think that your oldest first year goes by quick but no where near the warp speed that the 2nd child's first year goes. It honestly feels like we just brought our little girl home.

In the past 2 months, she has learned how to army crawl on her knees and elbows, how to crawl up on all four, she is eating solids, on stage 3 of the baby food, she's trying to talk, and shes actually on a better sleeping schedule.


She hasnt had a check up yet but she is long and heavy, but now that she is crawling, she is starting to thin out. Her little rolls are slowly disappearing. She is all over the house. She is exploring and learning rooms of the house that she was once only carried and sat in.


She is lifting herself up and trying to climb on and over everything that she can. She loves the window. Just like big sis! It almost looks like Ava standing there with her back towards the camera. She loves watching the tractors and cars going up the road. She and Ava watched hay bails being made the other evening. Hours of free entertainment.


She is really coming into her personality. She loves to play. She loves to laugh. She screams, rocks, likes to dance, and we play as hard as she can right now. She loves to get a hold of Ava's shirt and pull her to the ground and play.



She's just growing so fast, soon she will be walking, talking and running around. She is learning so much in such a little time. Seems like everyday she amazes me. She absorbs everything that we are doing and everything Ava does.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Disney/Pix​ar's BRAVE - Two New Clips

Am I MOM Enough?!? Really?!?

Ok, so I am a little late, about a month posting this but I have to put my two scents in. I am about tired of the 'breast feeding' kick everyone is on. First and foremost if you breast fed for any amount of time kudos to you and I am not putting it against you or saying that it is a bad thing. Second this is ALL me, ALL my opinion, and ITS about time that we hear from a formula feeding momma.

Am I NOT mom enough because my kids would not latch, I was lazy about it, and that with my 2nd kid I didnt have the time to put into the whole breastfeeding thing?? Am I to be considered a bad mom because I chose to put my babies on formula instead of giving them my milk?? All my aunts breast fed (at least I think so), my friends have, my co workers, and it is a great thing for your child but please so not put us down that cannot produce, cannot pump, cannot get a child after weeks and weeks of not sleeping or eating decides to give our child formula.


 Do these breast feeding mommas know how much they are offending someone by saying 'Oh you formula fed, thats a shame you couldnt give your kid the best thing for them' I have a very close friend that tried and tried and tried, cried at night while her child tried and couldnt get anything from her. But please we are made to feel that we cannot say anything negative about the 'breast feeding'. I would never put someone down about how they choose to feed their baby. Wouldn't you rather your child eating then starving while you're waiting for the supply to come in and it may never come in.


Baby formula actually has a long history.
                       The origins of the Nestlé Company go all the way back to 1867, when Henri Nestlé created a nutritious product for infants that could be used by mothers who were unable to breast-feed. Merchant, chemist and inventor Henri Nestlé, established in Vevey, Switzerland, makes a breakthrough when his new formula saves the life of a premature infant.

So yes even though I couldn't breastfeed for long, my girls are healthy and they are happy and I am mom enough. Shoot me but I think as long as they have what they need to grow healthy it doesnt matter one way or another.


Saturday, June 23, 2012

Disney/Pix​ar's MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (In Disney Digital 3D™)
DISNEY•PIXAR
Like us on Facebook:                facebook.com/disneypixar
Follow us on Twitter:                  twitter.com/disneypixar

Genre:                                      Comedy/Animation
Rating:                                      TBD
U.S. Release Date:                    June 21, 2013
Voice Talent:                             Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn
Director:                                   Dan Scanlon
Producer:                                  Kori Rae

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Screaming with laughter and fun, “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”) and produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Notes:
·        “Monsters, Inc.,” originally released on November 2, 2001, was nominated for four Oscars®: Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Song—“If I Didn’t Have You,” for which it won.
·        “Monsters University” will hit U.S. theaters nearly 12 years after the “Monsters, Inc.” theatrical debut.
·        Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprise their roles in the prequel as the wise-cracking Mike Wazowski and lovable Sulley.
·        “Monsters University” features a host of new faces and a few returning favorites from “Monsters, Inc.”



Life Around Here

So I have been MIA for a couple of weeks. These 2 little girls have had  my full attention, along with a husband that I want to spend as much time with as I can once we are home, and work has been crazy busy, like overtime busy. Yea its been that kind of beginning to our summer.

First of, My little 31 business is going great, and I could not be doing great without my wonderful customers. This has been one of the wonderful experiences that I have been a part of. At the beginning of the month, I was invited to join 1000 other ladies at our Summer Simplified Live conference, where I got to spend time with my 31 sisters and celebrate everyones accomplishments. I have never worked for a more positive company, they do not judge you or nag you about negatives or you didnt do something right, it is all a WOOT WOOT go you, yay for you, excited for you. It is inspiring to work for a company that lifts you up as high as you can reach.



Second, I reached my 1st year anniversary as a Civilan Government employee for the United States Coast Guard on June 6th. The work is hard, fast paced, and I love it. I grumble a lot during the day but at the end of the date I can honestly say I enjoy what I do. No file is the same, no mariner has the same demeaner, and my co-workers are my work family that care about me and my home family. We have had lots of ups and downs there but we are still there hanging together, helping each other, and waiting on the weekend to come together.

The girls are great, enjoying summer, and growing like weeds. I will catch up on them later...too much right now to put it all down....they are still at Vickies, Ava loves it there, as far as I am concerned they will be there until they both are in school full time.

Summertime is here, days are longer, its warmer, and we are all trying to spend time outside. I am trying to plan mini vacations, long weekends, when we can do it and we have a week long vacation in July with my in laws that we are now counting down too.

So I havent been GONE just BUSY. Its a terrible thing because I do think about blogging all the time, I wish I had more to write about sometimes. I hate writing for the sake of it. Our life isnt real boring but not real exciting either. But when something does come up anymore, its like I dont have the 15 minutes I need to sit and write it all down. I hope to begin making time for that as the girls grow, I am sure it will get more interesting around here and I want to make sure that I document it all for them to read one day. Lord knows I am terrible at their baby books. If I can do it this way at least they can read that. There is plenty to come, after all we have a 2 year old with a major attitude problem and a 8 month old that is highly sensitive and clingy to mommy right now.

Love that I am getting back to basics and back to writing. I love writing. It relaxes me, it allows me to think thinks out and work out creative ideas that are running through my mind. So there will be more to come.

DreamWorks Pictures' PEOPLE LIKE US + We're on Pinterest!​!!

Genre: Comedy-Drama
Rating: PG-13
U.S. Release date: June 29, 2012
Running time: 115 minutes
Cast: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer
Director: Alex Kurtzman Producers: Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen, Clayton Townsend
Executive Producer: Alex Kurtzman
Written by: Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jody Lambert

From DreamWorks Pictures comes “People Like Us,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process. In a story inspired by true events, Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, is tasked with fulfilling his estranged father’s last wishes—delivering an inheritance to a sister he never knew he had.

OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE: From DreamWorks Pictures comes “People Like Us,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process. The film also stars Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer. A DreamWorks Pictures presentation, “People Like Us” is directed by Alex Kurtzman, produced by Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen and Clayton Townsend, and written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jody Lambert. The film releases in U.S. theaters on June 29, 2012.

   

Thursday, June 14, 2012

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS UNVEILS EPIC ADVENTURE “FROZEN”—IN THEATERS NOVEMBER 2013

Film/TV/Stage Star Kristen Bell and Tony® Award Winner/film/TV star
Idina Menzel Lend their Singing/Acting Talents

Broadway Greats Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez to
Contribute Original Songs

BURBANK, Calif. (June 11, 2012) – Walt Disney Animation Studios presents an epic tale of adventure and comedy in “Frozen,” a computer-animated feature film slated for the big screen in November 2013. Directed by Chris Buck (“Tarzan,” “Surf’s Up”) and produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”), “Frozen” features the vocal talents of film/TV/stage star Kristen Bell as Anna, a young dreamer about to take the adventure of a lifetime, and Tony Award ®-winning actress Idina Menzel as Elsa the Snow Queen. The movie will feature original songs by Broadway greats Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

In “Frozen,” a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, so Anna (voice of Bell) must team up with Kristoff, a daring mountain man, on the grandest of journeys to find the Snow Queen (voice of Menzel) and put an end to the icy spell. Encountering Everest-like extremes, mystical creatures and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.

Bell has starred in a variety of films, including the comedies “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Couples Retreat,” and the upcoming films “Hit & Run,” “Some Girls” and the Farrelly Brothers’ “Movie 43.” On the small screen, Bell is currently starring in the Showtime series “House of Lies” alongside Don Cheadle; she has also starred in “Heroes” and “Veronica Mars.” Broadway credits include “The Crucible” and “Tom Sawyer.”

Menzel, who won a Tony Award® as Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Elphaba in Broadway’s “Wicked” (2004), landed her first role on Broadway in 1995 in the Tony Award-winning musical “Rent.” Film credits include “Enchanted” and the feature film “Rent.” She has appeared in a recurring role on TV’s “Glee” and recently released “Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony,” a live concert with an orchestra led by composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch. Menzel is currently on a North American concert tour.

Robert Lopez is a three-time Tony Award®-winning writer of the Tony and Grammy® Award-winning musical “The Book of Mormon,” which was co-written with Trey Parker and Matt Stone (“South Park”), and the musical “Avenue Q,” which ran for six years on Broadway and four years in London’s West End.  Lopez teamed with wife Anderson-Lopez, whose Drama Desk-winning show “In Transit” is Broadway-bound, to write original songs for 2011’s “Winnie the Pooh,” a stage version of “Finding Nemo” and a new musical called “Up Here.”

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

WRECK-IT RALPH Trailer now available!​!!

WRECK-IT RALPH WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Website: http://disney.go.com/wreck-it-ralph/
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/disneyanimation
Genre: Animation/Comedy Rating:
U.S. Release Date: November 2, 2012

Voice Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch Director: Rich Moore Producer: Clark Spencer Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore (TV’s “The Simpsons,” “Futurama”) take moviegoers on a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in “Wreck-It Ralph.” Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “Step Brothers”) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock”), the “good guy” star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing andseeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he’s tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero. On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch, TV’s “Glee”) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty. But it’s the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman, “The Sarah Silverman Program”) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and save the day before it’s too late? “Wreck-It Ralph” crashes onto the big screen on November 2, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select
theaters.



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

MARVEL STUDIOS BEGINS PRODUCTION ON THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISE “IRON MAN”

MARVEL STUDIOS BEGINS PRODUCTION ON THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISE “IRON MAN”

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” Commences Principal Photography
In Preparation for May 3, 2013 Film Release




BURBANK, Calif. (June 4, 2012) – Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes and Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”) as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.”  Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film.  Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion”).

Marvel Studios most recently produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios’ highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios’ fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.”  “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success.  Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend.  On June 13, 2008, Marvel released “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.


ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT:
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.


©DISNEY.    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Disney/Pix​ar's BRAVE - Scottish Dance & Glossary!!​!




Here is a sample of words from the BRAVE Scottish Glossary (full list attached):

BUNCH OF GALOOTS
Many fools
·        galoot = clumsy, oafish person

DREADFUL COLLYWOBBLES
Unwanted stomachache or a bad case of the nerves
·        collywobbles = upset stomach; intestinal disturbances or a feeling of apprehension

JIGGERY POKERY
Nonsense

JINGS CRIVENS HELP MA BOAB
Oh my!
Exclamation of bewilderment or exasperation

LASS
Girl

LAD
Boy

MICHTY ME
Wow! Holy cow!
An exclamation of surprise, shock or being overwhelmed

NUMPTY
Useless individual
         

Both materials are attached and all press materials can be downloaded from http://media-file.net/9/brave/ or http://media-file.net/9/brave/press-kit/.

"Like" BRAVE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave

BRAVE arrives in theaters everywhere on June 22nd!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN



Website and Mobile site: Disney.com/OddLife
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/OddLifeMovie
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/OddLifeMovie

Genre:                          Drama-Comedy
Rating:                         PG
U.S. Release date:        August 15, 2012
Running time:               100 mins.

Cast:                            Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest, CJ Adams, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, M. Emmet Walsh, Odeya Rush, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lois Smith, with David Morse and Common

Director:                       Peter Hedges
Producers:                    Ahmet Zappa, Scott Sanders, Jim Whitaker
Executive Producers:    John Cameron, Mara Jacobs
Story by:                      Ahmet Zappa
Screenplay by:              Peter Hedges

 

 
Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.
When young Timothy suddenly comes into the lives of Cindy and Jim Green, they learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.