The Big Splash!

Brad is out of town and last night I was in Asher's room. I had just bathed him and put him in pjs and set him up right. He made his way out of the room while I straighted up dirty clothes. The rest of the kids were getting baths and showers and pjs on when I hear heavy foot prints a big splash and a piercing scream from Abby. I run to the bathroom to find Asher in the tub with Abby and it scared her to death. He was in PJs and all and according to Abby he didn't really stop upon entering the bath room he just dove right in. I wish I could tell you that I ran for the camera to take a picture but since it was the second PJ change I wasn't too happy at the moment and it wasn't until I changed he pjs for the third time that I had to chuckle about the whole thing. I wonder at what point in his way for the bed room to the bath did he know he was taking the plunge. I love the way he thinks!
So this is the swimmer when he is suppose to be in the bath and without his pjs and diaper!

Quick and Easy Gifts (and inexpensive)

We've been trying to get ahead for the holidays a bit. My MOPS group earlier this month showed us how to make 4 homemade gifts that where reasonably priced. We will be giving two of those - one I make and one the kids make - to teachers, bus drivers and others. Here they are:

The first is Tile Coasters. I simply went to Lowes and bought some 4 X 4 tiles (non shiny) and stamped a holiday stamp on them with a permanent ink pad and colored them with colored sharpies and the baked them both after the stamp and then again after coloring them. (350 for 15 mins.) . Then we put felt pads on the bottom and wrapped 4 of them with ribbon for giving.

The second one is gem magnets for the frig. We got round magnets at the craft store and cut festive scrap paper to fit the top of the magnets. We glued the paper to the magnet and then a clear gem (that you put into the bottom of vases) on top and you have fun festive magnets. You can package these in a plastic bag and the magnets on a mason jar lid. Makes for easy gift presentation. Enjoy the fun of making these with your kids!

Do you have fun easy gift ideas? Post them here or on your blog and let me know!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Need I say more! Hope your day was a happy one! You are a blessing to so many! We appreciate and love you Mom and Grandma!

Adoption Awareness Month

It was at the end of this month two years ago that Brad came to me and said, Ok, I'm on board I really think we should adopt! Let me encourage you that if you don't think bring ing another child in your home is where you are - that's ok. I've been learning over the last few years how many things we can do to help. You can be a foster parent and I know that is not for everyone. You can supply the foster care system things for the children that graduate out of the program to start their adult life like pots, pans, sheets etc. I've also learned that they need mentors not only when they are in school but if they go to college foster children don't also get the same emotional support others get. You can write letters or send care packages. And the one way we started again this year doing is supporting a child overseas through World Help, but also you can sponsor child through World Vision, Compassion International and AHope. There are many other ways to help as well. These are just a few I can remember.

Love this song and I cry every time I hear it so you may want to grab a kleenex.



1 John 3:1
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are!

The music man (boy)!

We love music in our family! Asher is no exception. He loves to singing it out and bang out the beat! You will notice a beautiful dancer in the back ground. We will have to have her do a recital soon. Enjoy and sing along!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Giving Thanks!

Since the turn of the month I've been thinking of things that I'm thankful for and here are a few:

1. My parents - who not only brought me into this world but to a place where I could hear about God's plan for my life and accept Christ.
2. For my brothers and sisters that have taught me much and continue to do so. From humor, to caring for one another, humor, being able to achieve whatever you want to do and not give up, that if you get lost you learn more, humor, how looking at things through a child's eye is a great way to see the world, how God will supply ALL your needs if you truly trust him, did I say HUMOR! I could go on and on.
3. For my wonderful husband that I've known for over 25 years! He is my friend and my soul mate. Man, do I love him!
4. For my amazing kids! All their wonderful personalities and the many things that they have taught me.
5. That I can have a personal friendship with the creator of this world and (for the moment) I can worship Him, pray to Him and share about Him in this wonderful country I live in.
6. That we have the ability to eat our choice of foods when we desire to eat. That I have a refrigerator to store food for many days.
7. That I have so much in this world that many around the world can only imagine and many of those people CAN'T even imagine.
8. I'm so thankful for my health and that at this time I have no pain or discomfort that I have problems dealing with daily. I'm so blessed in that way.
9. I'm thankful that I have a family to call my own. Not only the family that I was born into, but the family I married into and the church family that I'm apart of, and a family of adoption families that we have joined as well. But mostly I'm thankful to be a child of the King and that He has adopted me into His family!
10. I could go on and on but I'll end with this one for now. I'm thankful to be a mother and to hold my children, wipe noses, cheer at soccer games, go to teacher conferences, put on band aids, hold a hand when they get shots and wipe the tears when friends don't play fair, love to pray with them as they go to bed and sing and laugh with them each and every day.

I'M TRULY BLESSED! THANK YOU, LORD!

"It's raining, It's raining!"

This is what I heard as I went down the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. I looked up to see a couple pass me with a concerned look on their face. I was wondering what was the cause for such a stare and then I saw it. . . Asher was reclined in the seated portion of the grocery cart. He had his head tilted and he was spitting into the air and saying "It's raining, it's raining." I know that couple might have been disappointed with my response but all I could do was laugh. I love the creative mind of my soon to be two year old.

Fall Shots!

Trick or Treat!

Well, Brad was out of town for Halloween and I got the best help for the older kids trip around the neighborhood. My brother showed up at the door complete in costume although it didn't last too long for him. The two younger ones (Cindy-Lou Who/Singer and Bob the Builder in the pictures) and I spent the night in the basement watching Hannah Montana and eating candy while "Yoda" and an Aircraft Carrier hit the streets. Caroline got the idea from a friend to carry around a toy airplane and be an aircraft carrier. So we did one better and taped them to her head and shoulder. People told her she was "unique". Fun was had by all. Thanks Uncle Gary for helping out!