WOAH, Wednesday---First Preschool Pictures

ABBY

 LANEY                                                                 

I know we're biased, but Oh. My. Word. They are TOO cute.  We want to eat them up!  (And stop them from growing up!)

A Chalkboard Giveaway!

Life!  It's nuts!  But you know that, so I won't go into more detail about why I've been MIA.  On to the good stuff!

A giveaway!

Abby, Laney, and I have had the fun opportunity to play with and review a dinnertime wonder!  From the moment the box arrived, the girls were giddy to see what new treasure had come!

We received a chalkboard placemat from a very neat paper project company called Paper-source!

Included in the set was one chalkboard placemat, four pieces of colorful chalk, wooden chalk holder, and a recycled felt eraser. 

Once I unwrapped the chalkboard placemat, I'll admit, I was a little disappointed it wasn't flexible or thinner.  It appeared to be just a chalkboard.  But once I put it on the table for the girls to enjoy while I cooked, I appreciated it's sturdiness!  If it were as flexible as I had imagined, it wouldn't have stood up to the drawing, erasing, and movement.

OUR THOUGHTS:

The girls were thrilled to be using the chalkboard while sitting at their little table.  This provided a much needed alternative to paper/pencil or coloring that we use to pass the time while I'm cooking.  It settled them down and gave me a chance to focus. 

We were also impressed with the fast shipping!  This is key for excited little girls!   

It was just the right size for their little table, and provided an opportunity to share.  Which they did!  Readily!  At one point, one of them drew a line down the middle to establish how far the other one could draw (or erase!) on the board.

They practiced their letters, drew flowers, and people figures and had great fun!  Obviously, for our dinner table, we would need two, but I think it would a worthwhile purchase. 

The girls thought the chalk holder (for one piece of chalk) was pretty neat.  It kept the chalk from rolling off of the table onto the floor.  They changed their color choice quite often because it was fun to prop theirs up on the holder.

OUR WISH:

One of our only wishes is that the felt eraser was of a better quality.  We were thrilled it was made of recycled materials, but it was thin and left a thick haze on the board.  To truly clean it off, we had to use a paper towel.  This is common with other chalkboards, but it annoyed us all. 

THE LOWDOWN:

Size--14 3/4" x 18 1/2".  This was perfect for their little play table, but for our dinner table we would obviously need two. 

Cost--$15.95

THE GOOD STUFF:

We want to share the joy!  We have a brand new, boxed-up chalkboard placemat from Paper-Source ready to ship to YOU!  What a great Christmas gift this would make! 

There are no strings attached!  Oh wait, yes there are.  Here's the deal:

1.  You HAVE to leave a comment!  If it's an anonymous comment,  please leave an email address where I can notify you of your win.

2.  If you want a SECOND entry into the drawing, go to the Paper-Source website (it's great!) and tell me about another product you like, or would use! 

3.  The drawing will be held on Halloween!  October 31, 2009 we will draw a winner and ship the fun gift out on Monday!  

Check out the Paper-Source site.  They have some fun craft kits and stationery to meet all your needs! 

Good Luck!

For the next two days...

please pray.

CLICK HERE.

Memorial Box Monday-with hours to spare!

Ok, so Linny challenged us again to leave a story for her...and I did.  But thought I'd finish it here.  Here's a recap:

This week's item for my memorial box is a plastic apple. When I finished my student teaching at a school I LOVED (funny though, our rivals while growing up) I had no idea where God would plunk me. I had taken a teaching assistant job at that same school, but it was only to finish out the year. By May, I had people asking all around me about what I was going to do for a job. I consistently said, "I'm not sure where God will put me. But I trust Him, wholly."   And I meant that.  I did NOT worry one ounce.  Not one bit.  I felt TOTAL peace.

Tony trusted Him too, but being the planner (and financial guy) wondered alongside all the others where I would work. We were married in the spring of 1999, so he was 100% supporting me while I student taught.

Literally, all summer everyone else seemed to sweat what I was going to do. I had put my resume out at only a couple of places. I KNEW God heard my heart, heard my cry. And He was faithful.  Seriously, though.  EVERYONE hounded me about what I was going to do.  Come on people, I serve a big GOD!

About two weeks before schools started all around this area, I got a call. It was from the school where I had student taught, and was a teaching assistant! One teacher moved into the role of Assistant Principal, which opened up her teaching position. They were offering me THAT position!

On Linny's blog, I explained that God not only gave me the cupcake, but He iced it AND put a cherry on top!  The position that opened was for a 5th grade Language Arts position (don't judge my writing here!).  God knew my heart was with the older kids (1st graders are whole other animals!) and that my passion was Language Arts.  So NOT ONLY did He provide a job, He designed that job specifically around me! 

Of ALL the schools.  Of ALL the positions.  THIS position, at THIS school opened up for me.  I just know it.  And since I have taken that job, I have had the time of my life.  I have had both 5th and 6th grade, and I have loved it. 

My loving Father, my Daddy, my Teacher, Abba, blessed me with my current job as a teacher. What better symbol than an apple? It represents my teaching, AND my trust. I trusted Him 100%.
 
Thanks for the challenge, Linny!  I needed the reminder!
 
P.S.  Stay tuned!  The givewaway is nearly ready!!  It was a fun little project I got to do, and now I get to give it away!

Think Bigger Than Yourself

First, read http://www.nogreatergift.blogspot.com/

They're working to bring home their daughter and are asking for help! 

You can: 

1.  Donate Money AND be entered in a drawing (amazing prizes)

2. Purchase gorgeous small pottery pendants where half the money goes toward their fundraiser.

I want to challenge you, friends!  I know you'd come through for us if we were doing a f undraiser to bring our next child home (who knows, we might just do that!) so step up, help out, and be the hands and feet of Jesus now!

Join Us!
Grab This Button

Tony's Misc. Post

I just wanted to drop by here and say hello. Life has been busy with the girls, work, local happenings, and etc...  So here is an update.

One of the things we have been doing recently is geocaching (visit http://www.geocaching.com/ for more information).  If you are not familiar with geocaching, it is basically treasure hunting with your GPS using coordinates posted on the website.  Our best friends Paul and Christy introduced us to this when they were in town a few weeks ago.  I think they have over 400 finds.  We are up to a grand total of 13. 

Below you will find a picture of my first geocoin found locally.  I placed it in a "travel bug hotel" near Greenfield Saturday.  I picked up a "travel bug" and plan to drop it somewhere in our hometown.  I know, you probably think we are crazy, but it is a lot of fun.  There are geocaches hidden everywhere, some right out in the open.  Fun stuff. 

(Here I am posing with the purple hippo - the photo was a requirement of finding the cache hidden nearby...)

Last weekend we hit a awesome car show with my parents and Robby and Ally.  It was a perfect day and we saw tons of awesome rides!  Robby even bumped into his pal Kenny!!

Sweet 57 & a sweet chevy truck!

Abby thinking something was a bit too loud!

Sweet 60 wagon!

Rat rods rule!

This weekend I had to replace the radiator in my Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Some would say "trade it in".  I say, with 180,000 + miles, it is a pretty good Jeep.  Luckily other than Dad fixing the exhaust recently, we have not had to do any work to it in a long, long time. 

The project went well.  My theory is that since I was listening to TBN while working on it, that had a positive effect.  The only snag was a lost small plastic fitting (probably a $1.00 item) that connects the transmmission line to the radiator.  Luckily Mom and Dad stopped by and, after searching forever, my Mom spotted it under Rett's Jeep.  Thanks Mom!!

The girls got into the project as well as you will see in the pictures.  The only loss is the black pliers seen in the pictures.  They are somewhere in the yard I am sure.  The girls were having a good time using the pliers to pull grass from the yard (I found a pile of grass on the hood of my black Nova). 

Abby helping putting the hardware on the new radiator.

Here they are posing with their tools...you cannot see it in this photo, but Laney even had grease on her face!

Well, this is totally random, but I felt I needed to show you some pictures.  I have not had much time to post due to many evenings spent working, spending my computer time on geocaching.com and etc.  This week we begin puppy kindergarten for Cooper.  "Parents night" is Monday.  This should be interesting...we'll keep you posted.  Next week I get to go with the girls on their first offical field trip with their pre-school, a trip to the orchard.  We'll keep you posted regarding that trip too.

Thanks for checking in...

Prayers are the only way to save her!

Flashback Friday can wait.

There is a passionate family working hard to bring their daughter home.  If they cannot bring her home ASAP, she'll be put in a mental institution forever.  She is asking we storm the gates of Heaven today and tomorrow for God to move the government for sweet, sweet Ruslana.  That's the least we can do! 

Join me?


Read about it here.

Flashback Friday

Well, my last Flashback Friday post went over like a lead balloon!  Only a couple of you remembered Jem and the Holograms!  I actually felt sad for you!  She was great! 

So, this week, I wanted to do another Saturday morning cartoon hit, but I figured I'd need therapy if you didn't remember this one either, so I'll hold off on that.  Instead, I want to highlight one of my favorite television shows from when I was an elementary school kid.. 

Anybody remember a spunky little girl who dressed in rainbow colors?  Her hair was always in pig tails and she was being raised by her foster dad?  (Hmmm, maybe that's where I first started thinking/learning about adoption?)  Of course I'm referring to PUNKY BREWSTER!  Her name was Penelope, but she went by Punky.  She was left in a grocery store with her dog, Brandon (who names their dog that?)  She eventually gets adopted by her foster dad, Henry.  (Ohhh, I remember when that actor died in real life!  I was so sad!)

I LOVED this show...I remember playing with my nieces (who are just a few years younger than me) like we were foster children and/or adopted.  I am sure we were NOT politically correct at all, but we were just kids.  I really do remember playing like one of us adopted the other one and felt so loved and safe.  We even acted out when we were first "adopted" to see if our mom would still love us!  Isn't that wild that I remember that?

So today, Friday, I salute Punky.  She was a snazzy dressin', trouble finding, little cutie.  (She had a cool name in real life too...Soleil Moon Frye.)  She was one of the first to introduce adoption and the love that goes along with it, to me!

Thankful Thursday

Hmmm...so much to be thankful for.


1.  My new great-niece born this week!  (www.reidhosp.org  Click on Reid Babies, then recent births)  Her name is Kynlee Grace and she is just beautiful!

2. It's October...WHOO HOO!  I LOVE this weather, season, time of year! L-O-V-E, LOVE IT!

3.  Two cutie patooties that make me laugh EVERY single day!  Such sweet spirits!  Thank you, Jesus!

4.  Thankful my brother-in-love's surgery went well and he is recovering @ home!  (even if certain places feel like Chinese stars moving around!)

5.  God's heart for the orphan.  It challenges me.

6.  Text messages straight from God!

7.  Pastors at our church who "get" the big picture.  We need to get outta our seats and BE the hands and feet of Jesus!

8.  Thankful we serve a mighty God who carries us when we're weak!

9.  For friends. 

10.  My job.  My students make me laugh.  That's a good thing, right?

11.  I'm thankful for YOU!  My faithful readers!  I forget how many of you there are until one of you mentions a post Tony or I did.  So often you don't leave comments, so I think there are only a few readers out there! 

12.  A fun blog experience will be coming up soon!  You'll want to stay tuned for this one!  One word.  GIVEAWAY!

13.  You fill in the blank here.  What are YOU thankful for???