25 days of blogging

My friend, Erica challenged me last year to blog for 25 days in the month of December. I accredit her to finally getting me into the blogging spirit with that challenge. This year she challenged us again and b/c of my trip to Africa I decided I should pass. But, then I remembered the cool trick Stormi over at Hanging with the Boyd's taught and post dating blog posts. So, thought I would give it a whirl, but I wanted to encourage you to take on a new challenge and think of a charity or good cause to support this holiday season. I am going to give you some helpful contacts and ideas to get you started. Thus my 25 days of giving, please share what you try!!

leaving on a jet plane

My itenerary -
12/5 - Arrive in Africa, briefing with Children's Cup
12/6 - Manzini Mega Christmas Party
12/7 - Maphiveni Party & spend night in game park
12/8 - Safari - even God took a day of rest
12/9 - Nkobe, Mozambique Party
12/10 - XaiXAi, MZ Christmas Party
12/11 - souvenir shopping and XaiXai video shoot
12/12 - fly out of Maputo
12/13 - arrive on American soil

I know there are two Mamas that will be fasting and praying, will you join them? Pick a date and post a comment of when you will be praying. I would love to know my team and I are covered in prayers.

Happy Birthday Mimi!

To the baker of birthday cakes & cookies, maker of hair bows galore, purchaser of little girl outfits and lover of two special little girls!

Happy Birthday Mimi!

happy turkey day

all better

I have my computer and pics back!  Thanks honey!

sick

My computer is very sick. It caught a nasty virus a couple of weeks ago from an email - hallmark post card from "a friend". I did not think I opened it, but I guess I did enough. My computer has been slowly dieing a long and painful death. Ben has been working on it for 3 days, but I do not want to upload any pics until I know it is all better. So, sorry the posts have been wordy and not cutsified for the past couple of weeks, I have been using the laptop and I have no photos on here. Hopefully by the time I get back all well be "healed" or I will get a new 'puter for C-mas.

tagged by Colleen

husband's name - Benjamin Thomas

how long have we been married? 10 years

How long did we date? 2 years, but we are still dating now!

How old is he? 33 years young (yes, a year younger than me)

Who eats more sweets? probably him, yes him, he loves ice cream and I always see him sneaking a couple of bites after dinner

I said I love you 1st.

He is taller than me, but everyone is taller than me.

Who is smarter? Who in their right mind would answer this ?

Who can sing better? Him, I just squeak

Who does the laundry? what's laundry? - me

Who does the dishes? the dishwasher

He pays the bills, but I do the spending.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? There's a wrong side?

Who mows the lawn? the kid next door

Who cooks dinner? I do, but he grills.

Who drives? Him

Who kissed who 1st? Seriously, 12 years ago, I don't remember yesterday.

Who's the 1st to admit their wrong? I am never wrong.

Who asked who out first? Once again, 12 years ago, but probably him.

Who wears the pants? If its cold, we both do.

What are his hobbies? animating, animating, animating and then some more animating, oh and riding his motorcycle.

Favorite Food: anything with shrimp, kalamta olives, or feta cheese. Chips and salsa

His fave dessert is ice cream?

Ben's favorite movies are the original Star Wars trilogy or Indiana Jones, it could be the Dark Knight now.

His favorite kid: really? ME(to be fair)

Dream Car- some motorcycle that he does not own

His fave vacation was New York City, but probably somewhere where he could ski.

I tag anyyone who reads this blog.

things I still need:

I still need your prayers. The reality of what I am walking into became very real to me yesterday. I knew it was going to be hard to see the children of the area, but being as I am already crying when I look at the pictures and in my quiet time, I know it is only going to be more of an emotional challenge as the days get closer and as I arrive. I also need prayer after I return, they say it is very difficult to come back to the states after seeing such circumstances.
I still need more sponsors, please pray the funds continue to come in.
We also need to take some goodies for the kiddos. We want to take deflated soccer balls, jump ropes, balloons and trinket type toys. So, if your kiddos have duplicate toys or you wanna clean out your stash let me know and I will take them to the children.

Our team's prayer

1 The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.
2 I will say about the Lord, "He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him." 3 He will certainly save you from hidden traps and from deadly sickness. 4 He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower. 5 You won't have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won't have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day. 6 You won't have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness. You won't have to fear the plague that destroys at noon. 7 A thousand may fall dead at your side. Ten thousand may fall near your right hand. But no harm will come to you. 8 You will see with your own eyes how God punishes sinful people. 9 The Lord is the one who keeps you safe. So let the Most High God be like a home to you. 10 Then no harm will come to you. No terrible plague will come near your tent. 11 The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. 12 They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone. 13 You will walk all over lions and cobras. You will crush mighty lions and poisonous snakes. 14 The Lord says, "I will save the one who loves me. I will keep him safe, because he trusts in me. 15 He will call out to me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will save him and honor him. 16 I will give him a long and full life. I will save him." Psalm 91

how can I not go?

http://www.childrenscup.org/v2/media.php

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Coming soon 25 ways to serve others.

some redeemed designs

a couple shirts from the women's line

They make great C-mas gifts.

still small voice

A couple of months ago, I heard a quiet still voice - very clear and very obvious. I have heard this voice before and I knew who it was and I knew I wanted to obey. I heard - "Let Stampin' Up go, I have bigger things for you, as long as you hold onto it, I will not let you go any farther."
The setting was very odd - I was sitting on a couch at a birthday party for Sheryl. I was talking to Sheryl and Amanda Bouldin (this is important later in the story). We were not talking about Stampin' Up or anything, so "why then Lord?"
Fast forward to 4 weeks ago. I was sitting at lunch with the Bouldins. Amanda gets this beaming smile and tells me - I am the answer to her prayers. She needs me to create the hangtags for their new clothing line. I met with them the following week and it has been a whirlwind ever since. We are already selling shirts and several other businesses are interested in picking up the line. One of the first things Amanda told me when I signed on for this was that we would be clothing 3rd World Countries. The website is still a work in progress. I am so excited about the potential and I am so excited to be involved with "something bigger than me." I still get to stamp and now for an important cause. I encourage you to always listen for that still, small voice.

wish I had said it

It's time for healing, time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender
Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly.
~Sanctus Real

something to say on quiet time

I commented in my last entry how I have been tossing and turning at night. I have been waking up at night for weeks, no reason, just wide awake! Last night at 2 a.m. I had a revelation. It is the only time of the day I am still ~ no e-mails, no cell phones, text messages, no children needing supervision, no dogs barking, no housework that can be done ~ my only quiet alone time to be with the Lord. So, I have been seeking Him during these times, praying mainly and trying to be still and listen. I really want to encourage you to make time to be with the Lord each day, I fear I am going to continue waking up until I make him more of a priority during the awake time of my day.
more on prioritizing to come:)

i have a lot to say

I am a very passionate person about many things - lots and lots of things. One is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason for it all. I have been tossing and turning for many nights trying to figure out how and what I want to say to get my point across. I think it will not happen all in one post or it will become to long and probably not get read. But just know I have alot to say and as I get the words they will be posted on my blog. Oh yes and you can thank Amanda B. for getting me hooked on journaling. My blog is one of my fave outlets and I love to show off my amazing children, but it is time to show off my awesome amazing God.

vroom vroom

Bella has a thing for motorcycles. Can't figure out where that came form! Her PawPaw got her a purple Harley for her birthday.

tagged again

I was tagged by my friend Jodi at Handprints on the Window. She wanted to see the 6th photo in my 6th folder, so here it is. This is Bella taken on June 13, 2007. My kids have the biggest bluest eyes I have ever seen. She has Ben's color and my shape. I forgot about this folder, thanks for making me pull it out!

I tag Anna, Carri, Erica, Lisa, Natalie, & Stormi (and anyone else I forgot.)

Anna's shower

We had a baby shower at my Aunt Nell's last weekend for Anna and Abby Lu. Susan came up with some fun games, Mimi, Aunt Nell and Tina made great food and we had great fellowship! We stocked Abby's piggy bank with our spare change and everyone had fun trying to figure out what candy bars were in diapers. We cannot wait to meet Miss Abby Lu.

Bella's 2nd birthday

Thanks to everyone who made Bella's birthday so special for her. We all had such a great time.

Where Was I?

1 minute ago: reading other friends blogs - Where Was I?
1 day ago: shopping Fredericksburg and taking my princesses to the Peach Tree
1 week ago: I stood in line to vote.
1 month ago: We celebrated Connor's birthday at Jumpin' Beans and watched Red River Shoot Out.
3 years ago: taking care of a 3 month old, Landry
5 years ago: teaching 1st grade at Shoreline, found out Ethan had been hit by an RPG in Iraq (today)
7 years ago: teaching pre-K at Shoreline, watching coverage on 9-11
10 years ago: preparing for a wedding, December 12th

I tag Amber, Carri, Erica, Lisa, Natalie

another blessing

Yesterday, I told our landlord I was going to Africa. I just got an e-mail from her and her husband and they said we could just pay half of our December rent to help with my trip. God is so good to us. He blesses in the big and the small!! Thanks Glenn Family!!

the past year

Happy Birthday Uncle Ryan and Uncle Bryan!

Bella shares her birthday with her two special "Uncle Bub's"

Ben's new reel

Happy Birthday Uncle Tim!

Ben just told me, TIM IS 30 today!!! Happy Birthday Old Man!

big girl bed

For the past few months, Bella has been napping in LE's toddler bed and LE in Bella's baby bed. So, we decided it was time to upgrade beds. I have been looking for a trundle for weeks and then my friend, Heather said she had a day bed with a trundle. I went that afternoon and got it! It took a little longer for Mommy and LE to agree on bedding, not really - but I had a specific look I was going for. My mom found this bedding on JCPenneys.com and it was perfect. So, for Bella's birthday this week Mimi and PawPaw got her the new quilt and Mommy and Daddy got her a new bed & LE matching quilt & accessories.

I love having the girls come in together in the morning to wake Ben and I. I will miss Bella calling me from her "confinement" - "Mommy" but it is a new chapter and one more big thing for her to do.

family fave - Greek Pasta Salad with Shrimp

I made one of RFF's fave recipes recently and thought I would take inspiration from Colleen and share.

3/4 lb. tomatoes, cut up

1 large red bell pepper, diced

1/4 lb. feta cheese, crumbled (i buy whole and crumble myself, taste fresher)

2 T. dry white wine

1 T. thyme

6 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup olive oil

3 cloves gralic, minced

1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped

1/4 lemon juice

3/4 lb. your choice of pasta (I use whole wheat angel hair), cooked

Mix first 10 ingredients and then toss with shrimp and pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This is a huge recipe, can feed us two meals or halved feeds us plenty.

3/4 lb. fresh shrimp, cooked

Dear Mr. Obama

Just in case you have missed this one --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8&NR=1

God smiled

just do it

You are not allowed to complain if you do not (pray first and then) VOTE!

Halloween Fun

Corn Dogs, Lemonade, face painting, costumes, marshmallow races, Princess bouncy house, candy, close friends, what more could you ask for? Except a pic of our hosts - Thanks T.A. and Pam for an awesome night of Halloween fun!