Bell Ringing....

Happy Tuesday --

I hope you are all having a wonderful week!!!

Today Emily and I volunteered for the Salvation Army . YES -- we were BELL RINGERS!!!
It was fun -- Emily really enjoyed it. It was nice to take time to help an organization that does so much good for people around our community and country!!

We prayed before arriving that we would bless people with kind words and a joyeous smile!!!
We did that !!!

I told her one of the BEST gifts she could ever give was KINDNESS -- it doesn't cost anything!!
A smile or a kind word can make a person's day...

You never know -- it may be the only kind word or smile they receive all day.....

We worked the door at our local HyVee -- Emily greeted EVERYONE with Merry Christmas and have a great day!!!-- she brought JOY to so many people -- you could see it on their faces.....

It was amazing to see how GENEROUS people were to give some change when they are greeted with such enthusiasm. God is Good!!!

It was a wonderful morning.....

Fabulous Holiday..

Happy Sunday,

I hope everyone had a wonderful and BLESSED Thanksgiving -- I sure did!!
It was the BEST!! First we were down in the Wichita area to see all my family -- there ended up being 32 for dinner -- it was GREAT!! I loved seeing all my siblings and family friends----

Here are a couple of pictures of MY two cute turkeys. :) Love them so much!!


Then on Friday we left for Branson -- It was soooooooooooooooooooo MUCH better than going out and shopping -- I didn't miss it at all.
We surprised the kids by going on the Polar Express train -- it was so GREAT!!!
The kids loved it and so did we... Brandon and Emily will always have this wonderful memory -- they were at the perfect age to go on this little excursion..
We had "snow", drank hot chocolate, the kids wore pajamas, we ate cookies, listened to the Polar Express story, sung Christmas carols and got to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus..
Here is a little slide show of our trip:

Make a Smilebox photobook

Then on Saturday we went to Silver Dollar City --
It really is a pretty little park, especially with all the Christmas lights.

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids in their "B and E" t-shirts. I must have had at least 15 people ask me about these shirts... Too funny.



We are off to a great start for the Holiday season -- tonight we went to my In-Laws to celebrate Thanksgiving with them and then we drove around listening to Christmas music and looking at the lights. I'm sure we will do this again before Christmas...

We have a busy week ahead ---- looking forward to all the December activities...

I hope you have a super week!!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happenings.....

Happy Saturday....

Wow --- it's almost Thanksgiving...time is flying by..

We are doing very well -- just verrrry busy.. I'm ready to see all my family this coming week.. Thanksgiving will be fabulous!! All my siblings and lots of extended family/friends will be at my sister's house. I think she's planning for over 30 for dinner.... Then we are off to Branson to take the kids on the Polar Express Train. This is one of my all time favorite books (not a real fan of the movie, but the book is wonderful) This little trip is a surprise for the kids -- I know they are going to LOVE it!!!! This will officially start the holiday season for us -- we have our third annual trip to eat Breakfast with Santa, trips to see the Mayor's Christmas tree, the Plaza lights, Longview Lake light display and many other family traditions planned for the month of December...

The kids have been practicing hard for their Christmas Pagent program at church. Myself and co-leader Shannon have been working with the Animal Choir -- (around 27 pre-K/Kdg.. kids)
They have had to learn six songs in the last month -- they are doing great...
We will have lots of sheep, camels, cats, and donkeys in the program -- their costumes are ADORABLE!!!!! I'll post pictures in a few weeks...

This weekend Emily and I have been cooking up a storm for our Church Bake Sale ---
Here are some pictures -- I MADE some cute tags--- YES -- I did some crafty stuff!!! Whoo Hoo for me!!!! I made some verrrry YUMMY Andes Mint , (these are so good), chocolate chip, and
oatmeal cookies. Then I also made some Pumpkin & Lemon Poppy seed bread, plus some brownies...

Here are some pictures of my CUTE tags -






In other happenings -- I'm doing well --- I haven't posted about my weight loss journey in a while -- because, wellllllll I FELL OFF THE WAGON !!! YES -- it happened YET again --
I'm OK though -- I will get back on --- I've learned a lot about myself this year --- It's been a year of wonderful changes --
I'm learning to love myself - whatever my size. :)

As I posted a while back, this past September I suffered a miscarriage -- it was terribly sad for me --- but GOD has gotten me through it, (along with some wonderful friends and family)... I have been praying a lot asking what HE has in store for me -- HE has answered many prayers lately...

Last week, I received a call from our WONDERFUL Children's pastor- Libby -- she called to invite me to lunch because she wanted to ask me something...
Well -- it turns out she wants me to go from being an assistant Sunday school teacher to a LEAD teacher.. PLUS she asked me to be apart of the Children's Ministry team which consists of the Children's Pastor, the Assist. Children's Pastor, plus six other wonderful women...
Well -- I accepted and am soooo very excited to be a part of this amazing group of women...
I'm LOVING it so much ---
I've worked with kids all my life-- it's what I know --
GOD wants me to continue to work with kids -- I'm so BLESSED to have this opportunity!!


Here's an idea for Christmas and it will go to help a wonderful family bring home their child from Ethiopia... I LOVE LOVE LOVE Poppy Dip dresses -- they are tooo cute for words...

Here is a picture of Emily modeling her Poppy Dip Lantern Dress for Moon Festival this past October and her Purple flower Poppy Dip... I think that fabric is out of stock now, but Sallee has others that are just as cute!!!




We have a few more that we haven't worn yet -- I'm exited for her to wear her snowman & holiday Poppy Dips. I'll post pictures when she wears them....

Speaking of Miss Em -- I just bought these necklaces for Christmas gifts for
all the girls that were adopted at the same time as Emily... Our families have all remained in touch over the last 3 1/2 years......
Aren't these necklaces CUTE!!




Well -- I have lots of other things to post -- but I can hear out my window the sounds of children in our backyard -- All the neighbor kids are playing and having fun -- I should go join them -- too bad it gets dark early now -- they would play out their for hours if it were still light....

I hope you all have a very BLESSED week and a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

First Gifts

"Every day, 4500 mothers bury their children due to contaminated water. They are forced to sustain their families with a diabolical liquid that contains both life and death. This lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations. And it just doesn't have to be!

So as we gear up to scurry through department stores and browse endless catalogs in search of new jeans, Tonka Trucks, gadgets and dolls....we are pausing. We are pausing. And today, November 13th, we are buying water. Clean, life-saving water.

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years. It will literally change and possibly save someone's life. A mother. A child. A brother. A grandfather.

We are rallying together for a cause. Clean water. One day. $10. Asking everyone to let this be their first gift. Let water, let life be their first gift of the season.

Click here to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit, charity: water. Or just click the yellow buton to make a donation. All donations are tax deductible, and 100% of your donation will go to clean water solutions in West Africa."

Posted on Charity Water

Orphan Sunday -- National Adoption Month

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimao

Powerful -- Something to think about....

Yesterday at church was such an amazing experience -- several Baptisms, testimony from members that went to Haiti to visit our church's orphanage and this video was shown ---

Something to think about as the holiday season approaches -------very powerful!!!!




Have a Blessed Week!

Whew----it's been over a month since I posted -- we have been busy .. Life has gotten back to normal -- whatever normal is....... :)

Here's a list of things we've been up to since I last posted....
School
Shatto Dairy
Louisburg Cider Mill/Pumpkin Patch
Renissance Festival
Birthday Parties
Mother-Son Hike -- in the spring there will be a Daddy/Daughter Dance....
Deanna Rose Children's Farm
Movies
Church
Family Gathering night
Small Group gathering night
Photo Shoot with the kids
Bonfire with about 20 families from church --- so FUN!!!
Visit from Grandparents
Liberty Festival
Dance class
Gymnastics
Tae Kwan Do
Dad-Son Breakfast at school
Moon Festival
Mom's Night Out with Adoption group from church
Volunteer Receptionist - I do this ever week
Doctor Appointments -- I'm ready for those to end..
Apple Orchard
Volunteering at School

The list goes on and on ------ this weekend our favorite boy turns SIX!! WOW --

Speaking of my children -- we had a photo shoot with a local photographer last week.
WOW -- Kayla is FABULOUS!!!


My kids were their normal SILLY selves --- drove me crazy --LOL
Well --- I haven't seen the proofs yet, but Kayla has FOUR pictures on her website from the shoot.

They made me cry -- My children are so very beautiful and the photos are amazing --- WOW!
I'm so very Blessed to be their Mommy.....
The expressions on their faces is pure JOY!!!! :)
They make my heart sing --

Take a look: HERE
You have to scroll down to the October 20th date ---then they are after cute little Kayln's pictures..

There are FOUR pictures of my kids --
I have a feeling this is going to cost me a small fortune -- I've only seen four of the pictures and I LOVE all four -- how will I ever choose ----??? :)


Someday I'm going to get back to cardmaking/scrapbooking -- someday I'll get back to posting on a regular basis --



A special THANKS to those that made comments on the last post and have sent me private emails -- Your thoughts and prayers during that difficult time were so appreciated by me.

I hope you are having a Blessed Week.....