Something Beautiful...

This is a beautiful site to me...not the decorations or the white lights but the fact that....

there are TWO stockings hanging by my fireplace.... it gives me a heart burst.

Madalynn's Pooh stocking is temporary.  My stocking is made out of old neckties of my Father, and Grandfather (every one in my family has one).  Well, my aunt is making Madalynn one out of neckties from my Dad, and my brother, but won't be able to get it done in time for this Christmas, so Pooh will have to do this year.

 

Today we got our first dusting of snow too... it was literally just a dusting, but it was very nice to set the mood as I was baking Christmas cookies (with the cookie cutters I used while I was growing up), and getting the Christmas decorations put up. (I guess it's time to put the deck furniture & planters away).

Fun Weekend

We've been having a great post Thanksgiving weekend just hanging out, and getting some things done.

Thanksgiving Day was special at my Mom's house.  Madalynn was hard to catch on camera (as usual), and then the battery in my camera died so I only have a few pics....

Waiting for the other guests to arrive...

Last year when we were in Guatemala for Thanksgiving Madalynn wore a purple jumper w/ Classic Pooh on it... this year I found a brown one w/ Pooh on it so we've begun a theme...

In this picture you can see Uncle Rob's feet in the background as he's about to chase after the little one, and she says 'the chase is on!!'

Today we went to get an area rug for the living room... we had a 5x7 in an area that could take a 9x12, so it was quite small, and it was very thin so not very cozy for Madalynn... me envisioning movie nights in the coming years with pillows, sleeping bags, and popcorn... I thought it was time.

Madalynn was quite excited, and helped Grandpa get the pad & carpet set up. When he unrolled the pad she was literally doing the 'stick my bum out' dance, and hoping all over the place...

Then Grandpa stayed to put up the outdoor lights, with Madalynn's help of course...

Madalynn thought her pumpkin would make a nice Christmas decoration... I thought it was a better idea to throw it away as it was quite smushy!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!  This is a very special Thanksgiving obviously being Madalynn's first one home. 

My mind has wandered so many times this week back to a year ago when I was at a hotel in Guatemala City spending time with my daughter for the second time.

This is a picture from that trip...

That was a 4 month old baby... now I have a 16 month old who's been home almost 9 months, and continues to fill my heart with joy.

I went in to check on her sleeping the other day, and stood over her crib watching her sleep, and I couldn't stop the tears... my heart burst with thankfulness to my heavenly Father who saw fit to bless me with this spunky, sweet, goofy, muy independent baby girl!!  She is my heart.

Noah Held Hostage, and other goings on around our house....

Noah's been missing around our house for awhile now...(I'm referring to the Little People Noah that goes w/ Madalynn's Noah's Ark). I try to keep an accounting for all parts for all toys, but Noah was missing. I thought perhaps he was mixed in with the Little People Nativity set, but no, or perhaps he was under the couch taking a break from caring for all the animals.... but nope.... No ransom note has been received so I figured he was safe somewhere... UNTIL.....

Do you see him??? Stuck in the ball popper!!! Poor Noah.

Last weekend on our Shoe Box shopping trip I bought Madalynn a princess balloon.... my goodness you'd think I gave her the moon, and the stars... she LOVES it!!! She sees it, and points 'booon'. You can just barely see the string in this picture. BTW, this is her latest smile with the squinty eyes... not sure what that's about.

When I have to take it away for various reasons... she is just crushed, unlike anytime I've ever seen her upset.

Later today I'm taking her for a haircut. I hate to do it, but something has to be done... people keep calling her 'Ringo'... it's such a mop top. It needs to be nice for Christmas pictures. I'll post pictures after.

Shoeboxes are ready to go....

The shoeboxes are ready to go for Operation Christmas Child... last weekend, my aunt, niece, Madalynn & I all piled in the car & went shopping!!

We had so much fun picking out the items to go in the boxes....

Wrapping shoe boxes & lids separately was a bit challenging...but I managed.  Tomorrow is drop off day!!

Have you done your boxes yet??  It's not too late the drop off is through Monday!!!

 

Wonderful Mission...

Samaritans Purse is a wonderful organization founded by Franklin Graham... this is from their mission statement...

"For over 35 years, Samaritan's Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ's command by going to the aid of the world's poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ"

Every Christmas they do Operation Christmas Child in which they ask people to fill a shoebox with toys & supplies for children all over the world to make their Christmas a little brighter. 

They are asking people to help in many ways...

• Commit to pray for a segment of time as part of their 1000 hours of prayer. For these boxes, and the lives they will bless.
• Fill a box, or 2, or 4, or 10 and bring it to one of their 2000 drop off centers around the country.
• Give them a donation to fill a box for in your name.
• Volunteer time at one of the drop off centers.

The collection and prayer is next week. 

I've been looking for, and praying about a way to give, particularly to Madalynn's birthcountry.  I've been familiar with Samaritans Purse for several years, but wanted to find out if Guatemala was one of the countries they serve... when I saw that since 1993 they've delivered over 870,000 boxes in Guatemala I knew this was the ministry I wanted to get involved in, and begin an annual tradition with Madalynn.

Number of boxes given out since 1993 in other countries

• China over 300,000
• Russia over 1,400,000
• Kazakhstan over 800,000
• India over 5,000,000
• Romania over 3,500,000
• Ukraine over 3,600,000
• Haiti almost 150,000
• United States over 82,000

Go to their website, and read some of their inspiring stories... also they have some great creative Christmas gifts... that help those in need.

I know it's early but....

I've got Christmas music playing.... I'm actually late this year I usually start listening to it in October.  The irony is I hate rushing Christmas... it always irritates me to see things up in the stores too soon.... However, I love my Christmas music, and feel as if 3 weeks in December is too little to be listening to it....