Go Ariane!

We were watching The Amazing Race and someone had to carry something balanced on his head... so Ariane picked up the popcorn bowl and proceeded to show us how she could not only balance it while walking, she can even dance with the bowl on her head!  It was pretty amazing!

 Kiersen tried it too, but she needs a little more practice!

Blessing Bags!

A few weeks ago in our small group, Gabe and Jessica were talking about how many people come into their office asking for money or food, and how it would be nice to have something to give them.  I remembered this pin I saw on pinterest for "Blessing Bags", and so we decided to make some during our pajama church a couple of weeks ago.


Gabe bought all the supplies at Walmart and the Dollar store.  The cost was about $15/bag.    Here the kids are, unpacking the stuff.

We created an assembly line on the table and filled large ziplocks with an assortment of snacks, toiletries, and a pair of socks.  

 The kids holding the completed bags.

Gabe is keeping most of them at his office, but we also put a bag in each car.  The kids started praying right away that we would find someone to give them to... and we gave away our first bag this week!  We saw a man standing on the corner holding a sign asking for help, and I grabbed the bag, rolled down the window and handed it to him.  We were pretty excited we were able to give one away, and hope to do more!

It was such an easy project... might be a good idea for scout troops or families to do???

Ariane Update

Although we saw the surgeon a few weeks ago and he was ready to go, the hospital would not schedule the surgery until she had  seen a pediatrician for a pre-op check up.  We were fortunate to find a local pediatrician who saw her this week and declared her healthy and good to go for surgery.  Now, hopefully the hospital will schedule it!  Here she is with Dr. Khosla, who was super nice and did the check up for free! 

Abe Lincoln Hats

Sometimes Kiersen teaches Liam his history lessons (following the teacher's guide).  She is a natural teacher... it would not surprise me at all if she grew up and chose teaching as her career. Today she taught him about Abraham Lincoln, and the project was to make a stovepipe hat!  Here are their masterpieces:)

Ways to serve locally: do you want to join us in any of these projects?

Last year, some families from our homeschool co-op went to a local women and children's shelter and did an Easter party.  It was a fun way to share our love with the families there, and I liked it because our kids were able to participate in serving.

I recently met with the volunteer coordinator there, and asked for a list of their volunteer needs.  Here are some of the ideas she gave me.  If anyone is interested in doing any of these with us, let me know.  I told her we would help in some way, but haven't yet committed to anything specific.  I would love to partner with others to serve!

*Deep cleaning the shelter kitchen periodically (they have to have this done to keep their commercial kitchen license)

*Outside work in the spring/summer- mowing grass, planting flowers, landscaping

*Stuffing mailings, quarterly

*Hand address mailings for special events

*Have a food/paper products drive to collect stuff for the shelter

*Be on-call to help maintain computers and fix them

*Help with the website design/maintenance

*Guys who can help with moving furniture (donations) once or twice a month

*A handyman they could call when something needs fixed

*Any special programs we want to do for the women/children staying at the shelter- Easter party, spa night for the women, field trip for the kids, etc.

Again, please let me know if you want to join the kids and I in a project and I can put it together! Or if you want to do something on this list for them on your own, I can put you in touch with the right person!

My Birthday Morning Suprise!

On March 7, I turned 28... oops, I mean 38 !  The kids and Gabe greeted me by singing happy birthday and holding up these beautiful signs!  I wasn't prepared and didn't get a great picture, but still wanted to put it in our blog book, because I loved it!!!  The signs read "You are the sunshine of our life" and "Happy B-Day"!

Then, they had a special "sunshine breakfast" for me!  See the palm trees?

It was a wonderful way to start my birthday!  The weather was beautiful - just like spring- since you know I have always maintained that I have a spring birthday!  Both sets of parents even stopped by to wish me Happy Birthday.  Lots of celebration... lots of love.  I am so blessed!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The Completed School In Swaziland

Just realized that we never put up the picture of the completed school... here it is!!