Birthdays Celebrated

What do you do when your birthday falls during the time of year that everyone is out of town on vacation or busy celebrating Christmas? Well, you just move your birthday so you can actually HAVE guests at your party. That is what we did for Caleb and Abby this year. We usually celebrate with friends every other year and this year was a friends party year. So we put the parties together and went to PUMP IT UP! It is a party place where you can jump on all kinds of fun blow up things like slides and obstical courses and all. I forgot my camera but my great friend posted her pictures here. So Happy 9 1/2 Caleb and Happy early birthday, Abby!

Summer Time Activities

Here are some of the activities we've done this summer so far:

Driving Range outing with Caleb and Grandma and Grandpa

Tons of pool time!

One night we took our kayak out on our community lake.

This was my land buddy while the other four fit on our two person Kayak.

This was Asher's first time.

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

Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo. . .

The weather called for rain but we missed it all at the zoo. Asher has been asking A LOT lately to go to the zoo and see the tigers. When we pulled into the parking lot he said,

"No, I don't want to go to the zoo. I'm scared of tigers!"

Go figure. We saw the tigers, polar bears, giraffes (my favorite), and many other wonderful animals. We had a great time and Asher loved his first time at the zoo so we bought a pass and we'll be back.

Sorry that I've been such a lame blogger lately. I've got lots of catching up to do. So stay tuned for a belayed Father's Day, a driving range outing, kayaking and many more.

Kids Against Hunger!

Do you ever just want to do something for the hungry children of this world? I'm found an incredible tangible way that you and I can do this? Not only through donations but also through volunteering! This organization is coming to our area. It is called Kids against Hunger and this branch of it will open in July.

Kids Against Hunger food packets are a specially formulated rice-soy casserole that nourishes starving children and their families in nearly 40 countries. The Kids Against Hunger network currently includes over 30 food packaging satellites across the United States and one in Canada. We are proud to announce that A Child's Hope International has been approved as a licensee for Kids Against Hunger in the greater Cincinnati area.

These simple ready to eat meals are a revolutionary food package that has been developed by some of the world's leading food scientists at Cargill, Pillsbury, General Mills and ADM. Just one package provides six nutritionally-complete servings to feed starving children around the world as well as the hungry here at home, and all for the low cost of 25 cents per serving.
In 2007, the Kids Against Hunger feeding network has shipped food to 38 countries.
You can be involved by donating or volunteering your time to pack food to ship. I really feel like this would benefit Ethiopia so much at this time but I need to find the right connections to make this happen. I'm praying that we can get this worked our to ship to ET. Right now this satalite plans on shipping the packets to Haiti, Swalizland and Appalacha, KY. We can't wait to start getting involved to help feed the hungry children of the US and ALL over the world!

Being South of the Border!

I've just returned from Monterrey, Mexico and as you can tell from the previous post Caroline stayed for an extra week with her two Aunts and two Uncles and 13 cousins. We had an amazing week. God blessed us with unbelievable weather (no temps above 95!!)! We loved working hard, loving on kids and gathering crowds to hear testimonies and how Jesus can be their friend forever!

I had many highlights but one that really stands out is the first night we were there. We had a huge outreach event on the property of Back 2 Back where all the children's homes came and all the teens that live on their property that are in the on going educational program and staff came together (around 450-500 people). The speaker (a dynamic mexican preacher) presented the gospel and told these orphans how God saw VALUE in each and everyone of them. But the best part was when he asked the workers of all the children's homes to come up front and ask the Americans to look after the young ones on their laps. He admonished them, encouraged them, came along side them and empathized with them, thanked them (had the kids thank them), loved on them and most importantly - PRAYED FOR THEM!!! This totally touched my heart and gave me a great perspective of the week that I needed to look at ALL the opportunities to serve this week. It's not just all about the kids but there are several people I can serve!!!

She stayed on the whole time! Rid'em Cowgirl!

Just some of them - Great to have cousins!

My twin sis at the Clinic!

Mother and Daughter

At the BIG event with a 13 year old girl!

Soccer Fun!

At a ball ceremony. We try to make each child feel special when they

recieve their ball and gaterade.

I took a day to be an Aunt.

Working hard and she never complained!

This is the same boy I say last year and he had just been dropped off.

It is so good to see a smile on his face.

My partner for the Day! Just precious!

Just the beautiful mountains that can be seen anywhere.

We took some kids here to swim, hike and play - field trip.

Happy Father's Day Dad, from Mexico

Dad,
Right now I'm typing on Aunt Cathy's laptop. I am bummed I am missing Father's day. Uncle Greg claims that Favorite Uncles day is the same day as fathers day. :) This morning I could picture you eating donuts. You would be having two big Long Johns. This afternoon you would probably be doing one or more of the following:

• taking a bike ride to Grandmas and swimming in her pool
• going to the Kings Island water park
  
• taking a bike ride around the lake
  
• going kayaking on the Landen Lake
  
• Graeter's ice cream
• proposing another "what-if we did this to our foyer" plan
  
• mowing the lawn with asher strapped to his back (was that Asher's suggestion or yours?)
• watering the flower boxes with the hose and "accidentally" losing control of it and squirting us
• many other activities that are not coming to mind right now
  

I love all of these so much Dad! I love how you enjoy spending so much time with me. i love that I enjoy the same things you do. I love you so much!!! I'll see you on the 20th and we'll celebrate then.
love,
Caroine

We've been invaded!!!

The last two weekends we have had and over abundance of visitors in our yard, woods and neighorhoods, atleast the ones that are over 17 years old. Since ours is over 30 our invasion has been massive. What are we being invaded by . . . .

Cicadas!!!!

Hundreds of these little guys are all over and they have left their skins behind. They are on grass blades, trees, fences and even our play set.

Some think they are gross, some, like my dog, have enjoyed eating them and beefing up their protein in their diet. And then there are those that just want to play with them and they would include . . .

They are also VERY noisy. So far they are still a novelty so we aren't that bothered. I know some that fry them and some that try them chocolate covered. But I don't think I'll go that far. Anyone else have this summer time joy right now?