Xmas '09

We had an enjoyable Xmas this year! We're so very blessed! I say that first and foremost as to not sound ingracious when I say that I was terribly lonely this year...
YES, I'm so happy that T is back.
YES, I'm so blessed to have healthy children!
But, I was nonetheless a little melancholy that we were alone. My memories take me back to SD with a houseful of people. I can't help it.
**roll over bottom of slide show to stop it & see caption**

Xmas parties

Mim's party was really adorable... all the little pre-schoolers singing of God's love and the true meaning of CHRISTmas! This is her teacher.


Lil's fun, too.... highlight was the pinata (don't know what that has to do w/ CHRISTmas, tho'?)


Xian's band concert... He is right under the "P" w/ the big hair!

The girls sang in the kid's choir at church.

BTW, Merry Christmas!

baby Georgia

My cousin and his lovely wife from SD were in town last week to welcome their new baby into the world. They named this precious babe Georgia.... quite a miracle child. She came to them via a surrogate. My Lily LOVED giving her a bottle and just taking her all in!

We wish this new family of THREE the very best that life can offer.

LB 2nd place Reflections Winner

My little arteest won 2nd place out of ALL of the Kindergartners at her school (almost 300 kids) in a Reflections contest entitled, "Beauty Is..."

She created a little work of art known simply as 'Flowers.'

Her school had a reception for all of the top winners and now her piece is onto the county level... yeah LB!!!

Thanksgiving 2009

I love these ladies

I should have a picture of the wonderful ladies who donated all of this great stuff for my friend V!!

I had to take a couple of pix of what these great ladies provided! We also got $82 in cash.

I'm so excited to bring all of this to her!!!! She'll get her toaster oven next week hopefully (see below).

HUGE thanks to my dear friends Esther, Su, and DeAnna for their contributions, too!

Vicki was moved to tears - again - when I told her of what you all had done! She said, "well, I've never" and "God bless you all!" over and over.

Ladies, thank you all so very much!!!

I'm blessed

A few updates since I last wrote regarding V.

I got to visit her at her “house.” Suffice it to say, I’ve never been so happy to come home to my comfy abode! I am SO blessed!!!! (Pictures above are: Ms. V & her dog Lily Mae and her house.)

She was embarrassed to let me in and started apologizing before I even got over the threshold. To say her house is small would be a gross understatement…. There were a lot of bugs and even though she tries, this is not a place where any human should have to live! She is so desperate to get out of there. I’ve tried several local tax-credit and subsidized housing communities, and the rent is either too high or there is no availability. The search continues...

I took her to a place called Warehouse of Hope where she’ll be able to get some food staples and maybe some clothing – another eye-opener to me. God placed me in another humbling environment while sitting there with others waiting for their free food & diapers: this could have been me. If circumstances would have been different in my life, I could be the one there receiving! Most people I know well are just one or two paychecks away from being there. Lord help me NEVER feel ‘superior’ to anyone in any way!!!!!!!!

Today my wonderful Bible study ladies did a food-drive of sorts for her. (I'll post these pix in the above update!!!!!!!) AND a big bag of clothes, AND a winter coat, AND one blessed soul is going to donate her toaster oven!!! Additionally, 2 other friends sent me money for her and another lady sent a box of clothes! How wonderful is all of this?! I’m so psyched to bring it all to her! With the money, we'll be able to help her with several of her bills this month! Thank you so much ladies!!!! Also, big shout out to a friend, Jeff, who sprayed her house for bugs inside and out. I’m sure he’ll NEVER again offer to help me out :) :) :)

Please continue to pray. Even though all of the above items are wonderful donations, they are but a band-aid on a big, gaping, hemorrhaging wound called poverty and right now, I don’t think there is an “answer.” The next step is to get her food stamps and Medicaid. I can’t imagine that she won’t qualify.

I’m thankful that God is using me in this way! I’m thankful that even though these circumstances are FAR from pleasant, I can serve and teach my children to give and then give some more even though we may not “feel” like it.