thankful for friends

we went back to kc for thanksgiving and got to see some friends.

we just adore the cowie girls!

urban living

one of the great things about our building, is the long hallways.

they're fun for riding bikes

and letting tinsley get some exercise.

we used this cart to transport supplies for our party for the bears game.

natalie loved riding on it for its return to the lobby.

we had a great turnout but my only proof is that ozzy was here!

first snow

as soon as natalie saw the snow she wanted to get bundled up and go outside!

it seemed like it took forever putting on the tight clothes, snow pants, jacket, hat, scarf, mittens...

the great thing was, i was still in pajamas indoors!

it was 8am on a saturday afterall!

after dance class she got to really play in the snow.

eventually she got to make her first snowman!

 she was disappointed that we didn't have a carrot for his nose!

a guest post by rebecca of HALO

A Meal a Month

When I was growing up my 4 siblings, dad, and I would scurry out the door in the morning to school and work, each of us grabbing a personalized brown bag of lunch.  My mom drew pictures every morning of each of us on our bags (which were many times embarrassing) that referred to something we had at school that day like one of us passing a test or playing a sport.  

Patrick and Kevin enjoying a morning snack and tea (Kenya).

There is nothing like sitting down with a table full of kids after they have been outside playing or at work in the classroom.  At HALO supported homes there isn't a lot of talking, just milk running down the sides of mouths and light speed peeling of oranges, which makes the dinner table a place of pure joy.  These are children who have been without many meals in their lives and their gratitude is evident in each bite... there are no complaints or special requests, just pure gratitude.

We have started a new campaign called A Meal a Month where donors can sign up to provide one meal for a HALO home (25 children) for just $10 per month.  Join us by brown baggin' it for a day a month (you may even draw yourself a picture) and spend that $10 you save on making 25 kids smile... It is a small reminder of how fortunate we are and the impact we are able to make with a small sacrifice.  Click here to give A Meal a Month!

a tiger

i love her shirt: it's fun to be me. i wish i felt that way more often.

Urgent HALO need - can you help?

PLEASE READ THROUGH, GIVEAWAY AT THE END!

The HALO Foundation is committed to enhancing the living conditions and providing art therapy for orphans worldwide. HALO provides American youth with opportunities to learn philanthropy and volunteerism by seeing the world through the eyes of the less fortunate.

 There are over 120 million orphans in the world today. Orphans supported by HALO are provided food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and art therapy. HALO works with orphanages in Mexico, India, Uganda, Kenya, Nicaragua and residential homes in the United States. Children from these homes submit their artwork to be sold at events in the United States, and aid in raising funds for continued support.

I am writing to share an urgent HALO need with you. 
 

If we don't take action now, it will affect our ability to provide support for HALO children in need.

The good news: HALO has an opportunity to raise $100,000 for basic needs of our children and $100,000 for scholarships. The HALO Hero program is a MATCHED giving opportunity where the donor gives $1,000 per year ($84/month), with the first year matched by the Woodland Foundation. We have until May 2011 to find and secure 100 HALO Heroes. So far, we have secured 17 HALO Heroes. (c'mon people! we are missing out on free matching here!!!)

$84 equals 6,525 kenyan shillings, enough to buy milk for 19 children for one month in kenya.
 
$84 equals 177,250 ugandan shillings, enough to buy 10 meals for an entire orphanage in uganda.

  We need your help: The harsh reality is if we fail to secure 100 HALO Heroes by May 2011, we will be forced to cut programs, saying no for the first time to the children we support. However, if each of us asks and secures ONE donor, we will reach our goal of 20 by the end of this year and 100 by May 2011. We need 10 HALO Heroes this month and 10 in December. Would you be willing to help us by asking yourself, friends or family to become a HALO Hero? 

I know we can do this!! Could you commit to finding just one person to become a HALO Hero, providing basic needs and a scholarship for children we support? Can a group of your friends go in on it together? your book club? your dinner club? your bunco group? your small group? your youth group? girl/boy scout troop? your girls' night out group? your playgroup? your cubicle friends? If you had four people it would be $20/month. 8 people would only be $10/month. (It's tax deductible too!) If so, please let me know or contact the office. We will do everything in our power to support you.
 

One HALO Hero provides basic needs for a child and a scholarship that will change the course of their future.

More information about HALO Hero and the link for donors to sign up:

http://www.haloworldwide.org/give/dream/

Thank you in advance for your support.  I am so grateful you are willing and able to be a part of the HALO family. 

****************************************************************************

FOR EVERY PERSON WHO SIGNS UP TO BE A HALO HERO, MY FAMILY WILL DONATE AN ADDITIONAL $20 TO THE HALO FOUNDATION.

leave me a comment that you donated and i will also enter you in a giveaway for a $50 giftcard to the store of your choice!
winner will be chosen randomly on january 1st!

if you can not commit to $84/month at this time, you have until May. if you can't make it happen by then, please consider a one-time donation.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
read my last HALO post here.

10 on 10 :: november 2010

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. Then share your beauty with us!

family pictures

my friend tracy took our family pictures at minnehaha falls!

being content

this devotion was perfect timing for me this morning:

1 timothy 6:6-10

"but godliness with contentment is great gain. for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

paul, the author of this short letter to his friend timothy, was no stranger to difficult times. but after being beaten, imprisoned and threatened with death, he could still write the words, "godliness with contentment is great gain."
when we focus on the idealistic notion that we will be content if this would happen or if we had that or if we could go there - we fail to notice the truth that contentment doesn't come from externals; it only comes internally, in a relationship with God. true contentment has more to do with a life of inner peace rather than with one of outer ease.
when we find contentment first in our relationship with Jesus, our view of what we have and what we lack changes. for example, if we really believe Jesus loves us and desires for us to grow into all he has for us, we can embrace our trials as useful in God's hands.
contentment comes as we view our circumstances through the lens of our relationship with God and what he is trying to accomplish in our lives. contentment will involve:

• putting God first and things second.

• looking for God in every moment - not just the pleasant but the unpleasant, not just the easy but the difficult, not just the simple but the hard.

• rejecting our cultural definitions of success. a successful life is one that begins with knowing and loving God.

contentment is a life of inner peace rather than one of outer ease.
from MOPS devotional

she said what?!

 **she was rubbing her chin and said, "i need to go to the chin doctor."


**"it's a great night for salmon!"


** "exotic" (i'm going to assume she got this from dora or diego describing a plant or animal...and not some other context!)


**she pushed up a chapstick almost the whole way.
i said, "stop! don't keep pushing it up!" 
and she said, "i woooon't. take it easy. don't be worried."

**"mom, did you hear my burp sound?" (it was actually a toot.)
"yes."
"why didn't you say anything?"
"it's more polite to be quiet."
"but it just comes out."
"yeah."
"so how can you keep it quiet?"
"when you get older you'll learn how to control it."
"like when i'm four?"

** she says she "wishes" a lot. "i wish i could have candy for breakfast." "i wish i could be in that book." "i wish i had that."

**i had my backpack on and natalie asked me, "are you bringing your backpack?"
me: "yes."
nat: "okay, yes, you may bring it."
ha! thanks for the permission, honey!

**i was putting on her hoodie and she wanted to zip it up. she said, "you just put it together and i'll zip it. i'm serious. serious. i'll do it. serious."

**me: "do you want a pony or a bow?"
nat: "no pony. no bow. none of those ingredients in my hair."


**"let me just try it on for size."

**i was singing "tomorrow" from annie and natalie said, "don't sing that song ever again."
me: "why?"
nat: "because i don't want to be 'a day away.' i want to be with my family. so don't sing that again. ever ever again. okay?"
i think she must think she is tomorrow?? because i say, "i love ya, tomorrow...."

**nat: "may you please braid my hair?" pause..."actually i'd like two braids please."
even though we were running late, i told her i would because she asked sooo politely.
when i was done she looked in the mirror and said,
"two braids! one for each side! so they can be friends with each other!"

snuggles

p.s. natalie drew a nose and whiskers on her face with a red marker. some markings remain.

she was trying to be a cat. 

i think she was inspired by all the halloween costumes!

tinsley might look as though he's not enjoying this but he really does.

i love that natalie is so affectionate.

and that tinsley loves it too and is so good with her!

youch! don't mind that his eye is being gouged. he loves it! :)

i love her expression too!

(telling him what to do, i'm sure!)

best fall cookies!

i bake these cookies for every fall activity!
it only requires three ingredients:
can of pumpkin (not pie), yellow cake mix and cinnamon chips (they're in the aisle right next to the chocolate chips. your first store might not carry them but keep trying! someone will!)

bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
deeelicious!

well check

better late than never...i finally took natalie in for her three year well check.

she has 20/20 vision!

my friend from college is her pediatrician!

natalie brought her doctor kit so she could give an exam too!

natalie weighs 28.8 pounds and is 37.25 inches tall!

we are thankful for a happy, healthy daughter!

FRIENDS are lovely

we had good friends in from chicago and got a sitter for friday night.
we went to bar abilene for dinner. there were TWELVE of us.
unfortunately i didn't get everyone's picture...but at least i got OURS!