A 2 Year Old Prayer...

E: "My turn pray"
Mommy: "Dear Jesus"
E: "Sus"
Mommy: "Thank you for this day"
E: "Kank you day"
Mommy: "Thank you for this food"
E: "food"
Mommy: "Bless it to our bodies"
E: "Bodies"
Mommy: "In Jesus Name, Amen."
E: "MEN!!!!!!!"

Of all of the cute things he says and does...this blesses my heart the most!!

Operation Christmas Child...

It's that time of year when our gain and other's lack becomes more apparent. It is something we are fervently trying to teach our children about each day of the year, not just at Christmas; however, Operation Christmas Child is a perfect opportunity to drive the lesson home once again. If you haven't heard of this program you need to check it out. You have approximately 13 more days to lovingly pack any type of shoebox (even rubbermaid works) with boy or girl toys. The cool thing is that you can even track your package to see where and who it goes to. Take a moment to watch one of the videos that is on this website and just see the joy that these kids have from the smallest gifts. God keeps pressing this lesson in for Justin and I, as we look around even locally at all of those in need...we can watch a video clip, spend some time at the Rescue Mission, put our change in the Red bucket, or drive past a homeless shelter, but then we can walk back in the door to a warm home, cozy bed, hot water, a fridge and pantry full of food and all the toys our kids could need or want...but millions of people can't!





"Mom, I've always wanted a harmonica...can I just keep this one?"



Checking out each item...I think inside they were hoping something wouldn't fit so they could keep it. A hard lesson to learn!



It will take some creative packing to fit this stuff in. Good thing these boxes are sturdy!



One of our boxes, packed and ready to go. The last things it needs is a note from the boys and a prayer for the little boy that will receive it.

Take a minute to think today about what you and your family can do. I know our family can't solve all the problems, but we can play our part in the solution. We can make a difference in maybe one child or one family. We can bring joy to the 3 little boys who will receive these packages along with the Message of Hope. Thanksgiving and Christmas is the perfect opportunity to start your family in a new direction...looking to meet the needs of others, not just today but always!

Snow Day AGAIN...

Here we are at the end of another day filled with snow. The wind chill was in the single digits and school was canceled again. That didn't stop us from getting out to play...baking pumpkin cookies...stopping at Starbucks...and having a great play date!





What would make this day a whole lot better would be having Daddy home to help us enjoy it, and opening up the roads so that he can come home!!

Snow Day...

...popcorn...lots of blankets...Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin...



...the perfect ending to a miserable snow day...

Another trip to the Pumpkin Patch...

Wow...has it really been 2 weeks since I have posted something new...Justin is reminding me that it has been.

Zach's Kindergarten class headed out to a local Pumpkin Patch. When I say local I mean about 15 miles north. Just far enough North for weather to be drastically different than what it was "locally." I'm not sure why we can't seem to get a break with the weather. This was our second time to a patch this year and despite having several nice days in between, both of our trips have been bitterly cold! Cold enough that I am too wimpy to take my mittens off and take more that one or two pictures.



"Soccer ball" sized pumpkins were all we were allowed today. I was thankful for that since I would be the one to be carrying them. Huge pumpkins are great when there is a man or a wheelbarrow handy!



Eli tagged along today. Despite his excitement when we arrived, this outing quickly turned sour when he realized how chilly it was. He had a chronic tear coming down his chilly cheeks, a drippy nose, and kept say "cold cold" when we eventually got back into the car.



Can we go home yet?

Actually the outing turned out well. Eli fell asleep on the hay ride and Zach trudged through a maze that had about 7 or 8 inches of snow in it! He loved every minute of it, that is until his shoes got wet! We enjoyed some sweet pumpkin cookies (I will share the recipe later), warm apple cider, and a very adventuresome ride home. Not to mention we have 2 small pumpkins to replace the 3 huge pumpkins that are currently rotting on my front steps...thanks again to our chilly temperatures!